title: Fifty-five minimally invasive Esophagectomies: a single centre experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Minimally invasive esophagectomy is an evolving alternative to the open technique with the goal of providing efficient oncological therapy while minimizing morbidity by diminishing surgical trauma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-five consecutive esophagectomies with a minimally invasive approach were included in the calculations. The patients' demography, surgical, histopathological and survival outcomes were analyzed, and surgical/ non-surgical morbidity rates calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 47% of the patients, a laparoscopic-thoracoscopic approach, and in 53% minimally invasive hybrid procedures were performed. The overall conversion rate to open surgery was 5.5%. Major surgical complications occurred in 26% and major non-surgical morbidity in 13% of the patients. The curative resection rate was 87% with a median number of investigated lymph-nodes of 17.5. The 1-year disease-free survival and overall survival were 73% and 88%, respectively. No hospital mortality occurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Minimally invasive oncological resection in patients with esophageal cancer is feasible and provides the potential of reducing postoperative morbidity and enhancing the oncological outcome even when a learning curve is included.
authors: Department of Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria. sebastian.schoppmann@meduniwien.ac.at
authors: Sebastian F
authors: SF
authors: Schoppmann
authors: Gerhard
authors: G
authors: Prager
authors: Felix
authors: F
authors: Langer
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Riegler
authors: Edith
authors: E
authors: Fleischman
authors: Johannes
authors: J
authors: Zacherl
mesh_terms: D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D016019:Survival Analysis