Early experience with minimally invasive esophagectomy in head and neck surgical patients.
BACKGROUND
Minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) via thoracoscopy and laparoscopy have reduced the morbidity and mortality of total esophagectomy at experienced centers. MIE has not been evaluated in combination with major head and neck surgery, or in the otolaryngology literature.


METHODS
Case series of 11 consecutive patients undergoing either open or MIE with an ablative neck procedure.


RESULTS
Comparing 4 MIEs and 7 open operations, similar operative time, blood loss, and ICU and hospital length of stay were observed. There was one mortality in the open group. A 100% rate of major complications was observed in the MIE group.


CONCLUSIONS
Our multidisciplinary team was unable to achieve improved outcomes in a series of head and neck surgical patients undergoing MIE. This result may represent an early stage of the learning curve for MIE, but may also be attributed to the escalated surgical requirements of head and neck patients.
Head and Neck Service, New York University Cancer Institute, New York, NY 10016, USA. luc.morris@med.nyu.edu
Luc G T
LG
Morris
Theresa N
TN
Tran
Mark D
MD
DeLacure
D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery; D003422:Critical Care; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors