Minimally invasive esophagectomy.

Minimally invasive esophagectomy can be safely performed in selected cases in centers specializing in minimally invasive esophageal surgery.Potential benefits include lessened physiologic insult, with decreased hospital stay and a more rapid recovery to full activity. Drawbacks include the cost of the disposable instrumentation and the steep learning curve. As thoracic surgeons continue to acquire expertise with this procedure, improved results may be expected. Prospective trials with longer follow-up will be required to confirm any advantages of MIE over conventional approaches. Open surgical approaches should remain the standard operation for esophagectomy in most institutions.