title: [Hand-assisted video-thoracoscopy for resection of esophageal cancer].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the feasibility and advantages of hand-assisted video-thoracoscopy for resection of esophageal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-five patients with esophageal cancer received hand-assisted video-thoracoscopic esophagectomy (group I). 45 patients underwent esophagectomy through routine open thoracotomy during the same period as control (group II). The data of lymph node resection, operating time and blood loss were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no operative mortality in 2 groups. In group I, the number of dissected paraesophageal lymph nodes, cardiac lymph nodes and left gastric nodes were (3.6 +/- 1.0), (1.3 +/- 1.1) and (4.3 +/- 1.4), respectively. While for group II the dissected lymph nodes were (3.3 +/- 1.5), (1.6 +/- 1.1) and (4.7 +/- 2.1), respectively. There was no significant difference between two groups (P > 0.05). However, the number of dissected mediastinal nodes was (6.6 +/- 3.7) for group I and (3.8 +/- 2.5) for group II (chi(2) = 2.95, P < 0.05). The mean operating time was (29 +/- 5) minutes for group I and (60 +/- 6) minutes for group II. The mean blood loss was (93 +/- 19) ml for group I and (145 +/- 35) ml for group II. The mean chest tube drainage was (201 +/- 45) ml for group I and (295 +/- 57) ml for group II in the first postoperative day. The difference in above parameters between 2 groups was significant (chi(2) = 18.69, 6.13, 6.08, P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is suggested that hand-assisted video-thoracoscopic esophagectomy is a safer, minimal invasive procedure in the resection of esophagus carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250021, China.
authors.forename: Jia-jun
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Long
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Jing-han
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zhong-min
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiao-hang
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted; D013908:Thoracotomy; D016896:Treatment Outcome