Objective: To analyze the differences in perioperative morbidity and lymph node dissection between minimally invasive esophageal carcinoma resection and open procedure.
Methods: From January to December 2011, 72 patients with esophageal cancer underwent surgery. Thirty-four patients underwent video-assisted esophagectomy, and 38 underwent open procedure. In the minimally invasive group, there were 7 thoraco-laparoscopic cases, 16 thoracoscopic cases, and 11 laparoscopic cases.
Results: The early cases (T1-T2) were more common in the minimally invasive group than that in the open group [79.4%(27/34) vs. 55.3%(21/38), P<0.05]. The complication rate was 41.2%(11/34) in the open group and 42.1%(16/38) in the minimally invasive group, and the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). However, the functional complication in minimally invasive group was significantly lower than that in open group [2.9%(1/34) vs. 28.9%(11/38), P<0.01], while technical complications (anastomotic leak and recurrent laryngeal nerve injury) were significantly more common( 38.2% vs. 10.5%, P<0.05). Lymph node group number in minimally invasive group was comparable with the open group (9.1 vs. 11.2, P>0.05), but the number of node in minimally invasive group was significantly lower (13.5±5.9 vs. 17.8±5.2, P<0.05). When stratified by time period, early 17 cases were associated with similar technical complication rate with the late 17 cases (P>0.05), while thoracic lymph node group number, number of node, and positive node were improved in the late phase (all P>0.05).
Conclusions: Minimally invasive esophagectomy reduces functional morbidity, while technical complication including anastomotic leak and recurrent laryngeal nerve injury may be increased. Endoscopic lymph node dissection may be comparable to open surgery.