[Laparoscopic surgery in cancer of the esophagus].
BACKGROUND
For the last year we have substituted laparotomy with laparoscopy for the abdominal stage of esophageal cancer surgery. We report our experience of the introduction of video-assisted surgery in the treatment of esophageal cancer.


METHODS
We report our experience of nine patients diagnosed with esophageal cancer. In seven patients laparoscopy was preceded by right thoracotomy and esophageal dissection. Then, a left anterolateral cervicotomy was performed to remove the specimen and to construct the esophagogastroanastomosis. In two patients the laparoscopic technique was performed first and the Ivor Lewis procedure was completed by right thoracotomy.


RESULTS
Due to the reduced number of operated patients, the results are of little significance. Morbidity was 38.3%. The mean duration of the surgical procedure in laparoscopic patients was 4 h 50 min. However, perioperative blood loss, postoperative complications, analgesic requirements and mean length of hospital stay were reduced.


CONCLUSIONS
Video-assisted esophagectomy can be performed as safely as conventional esophagectomy and has considerable perioperative advantages. The introduction of the laparoscopic procedure is the first step in using video-assisted surgery at all stages of esophageal cancer surgery.
Roig-García
José
J
Unidad de Cirugía Gastroesofágica, Servicio de Cirugía General y Digestiva, Hospital Universitario Dr. Josep Trueta, Girona, España. jroigg@tiscali.es
Gironès-Vilà
Jordi
J
Pujades-de Palol
Marcel
M
Codina-Barreras
Antonio
A
Blanco
Jordi
J
Rodríguez-Hermosa
Ji
J
Codina-Cazador
Antonio
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020535:Video-Assisted Surgery