BACKGROUND A number of case reports have described the application of minimally invasive surgical techniques to accomplish esophagectomy. However, most reports have employed thoracoscopic or laparoscopic techniques to perform esophagectomy in addition to an "access" incision which often approaches a standard laparotomy or thoracotomy. CASE REPORT This report describes a total laparoscopic tra...

PURPOSE This study aimed to compare the overall and disease-free survival of patients who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy (VATE) or open esophagectomy for esophageal carcinoma. METHODS Patients who underwent radical esophagectomy via VATE (VATE group, N=89) for esophageal carcinoma between January 2008 and December 2012 were retrospectively enrolled in this study. Patient...

INTRODUCTION The incidence of lymph node metastasis in the dorsal area of the thoracic aorta (DTA) is relatively low in patients with esophageal cancer. It is difficult to approach the DTA using surgical procedures, such as an open thoracotomy and thoracoscopy in the left decubitus position. CASE PRESENTATION Case 1: A 70-year-old man with esophageal cancer underwent thoracoscopic esophagecto...

Study Objective: We compared the effects of intraoperative body position on blood gas and fluid balance in patients undergoing a thoracoscopic esophagectomy as well as during operation and postoperative laboratory data. Design: Prospective study. Setting: Operating room and intensive care unit. Patients: ASA physical status 1 and 2 patients (n = 26), scheduled for elective thoracoscopic esophag...

BACKGROUND To compare surgical outcomes of thoracoscopic and laparoscopic esophagectomy with open esophagectomy in order to study the learning curve of minimally invasive surgery for esophageal cancers. METHODS Among 109 esophageal cancer patients retrospectively studied, 59 patients underwent minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) and 50 underwent open surgery (OE). In the MIE group, the fir...

A best evidence topic was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether the thoracoscopic phase of three-stage minimally-invasive esophagectomy is best performed in the prone or left lateral decubitus position. A total of 31 papers were found using the reported searches, of which seven represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. The authors, d...

AIM To introduce a two-step method for creating a gastric tube during laparoscopic-thoracoscopic Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy and assess its clinical application. METHODS One hundred and twenty-two patients with middle or lower esophageal cancer who underwent laparoscopic-thoracoscopic Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy at Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute from March 2014 to March 2016 were included i...

Abstract Background Minimally invasive techniques are increasingly used in the treatment of esophageal cancer. The learning curve for minimally oesophagectomy (MIO) is variable and can impact on patient outcomes. aim this study was to review current evidence curves MIO identify which parameters benchmarking. Methods A search major reference databases (PubMed, Medline, Cochrane) performed with n...

BACKGROUND Acquired esophageal strictures in children are often the result of ingestion of caustic agents. We describe 2 children with severe esophageal strictures following lye ingestion, who successfully underwent esophagectomy and gastric pull-up utilizing combined thoracoscopic and laparoscopic techniques. METHODS This was a retrospective chart analysis of both patients. CASE 1: A 17-year...