Minimally invasive esophagectomy: short- and long-term outcomes.

BACKGROUND

We aimed to assess the outcomes including the effect on quality of life (QoL) of a group of patients having a minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE).

METHODS

Patients with esophageal cancer were offered MIE over a 22-month period. Data on outcomes were collected prospectively, including formal quality-of-assessments.

RESULTS

There were 25 patients offered MIE. Two patients were converted to a laparotomy to improve the lymphadenectomy. There were no deaths. Respiratory problems (pneumonia, 28%) were the most common in the 64% of patients who had a complication. The median blood loss was 300 ml, time of surgery 330 min, and time to discharge 11 days. There was a decrease in the measured QoL both in general and specifically for the esophageal patients, taking 18-24 months to return to baseline.

CONCLUSIONS

MIE was performed with morbidity similar to other approaches. There were no clear benefits shown in this group of patients with respect to postoperative recovery or short- to medium-term QoL.