Results of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for esophageal cancer during the induction period.
OBJECTIVE
The attainment of proficiency in thoracoscopic radical esophagectomy for thoracic esophageal cancer requires much experience. We aimed to master this procedure safely with our regular surgical team members under the direction of an experienced surgeon. We evaluated the efficacy of instruction during the induction period and the significance of our results.


METHODS
We compared the results of 12 thoracic esophageal cancer patients who underwent thoracoscopic radical esophagectomy in our institution (group A) to those of the initial 17 patients who underwent the same operation at the director's institution (group B).


RESULTS
We were able to perform complete thoracoscopic radical esophagectomies without any direction after experiencing 10 cases that were performed under adequate direction. The number of dissected lymph nodes and the duration of the procedure were similar in the two groups: 34 (22-53) vs. 26 (9-55) nodes, P = 0.23; and 327.5 (230-455) vs. 315 (190-515) min, P = 0.947, respectively. The amount of thoracic blood loss was significantly less in group A than in group B: 185 (110-380) g vs. 440 (110-2360) g, P = 0.0035. Postoperative pneumonia and atelectasis were observed in 25.0% of group A patients and in 17.6% of group B patients. The incidence of recurrent nerve palsy was 30.7% in group A and 11.7% in group B, but there was no statistically significant difference (P = 0.19). The morbidity rates in group A and group B were 41.6% and 29.4%, respectively (P = 0.694).


CONCLUSIONS
Thoracoscopic radical esophagectomy can be mastered relatively quickly and safely under the direction of an experienced surgeon and a regular surgical team.
Ninomiya
Itasu
I
Gastroenterologic Surgery, Department of Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takaramachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-8641, Japan. nino@surg2.m.kanazawa-u.ac.jp
Osugi
Harushi
H
Fujimura
Takashi
T
Kayahara
Masato
M
Takamura
Hiroyuki
H
Takemura
Masashi
M
Lee
Shigeru
S
Nakagawara
Hisatoshi
H
Nishimura
Genichi
G
Ohta
Tetsuo
T
D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted