title: Zero leaks with minimally invasive esophagectomy: a team-based approach.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Minimally invasive surgery has been applied in several ways to esophagectomy. Newer techniques have improved patient outcomes while maintaining oncological principles; however, mortality still exists. Most series have reported mortality rates ranging from 2% to 25%. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of minimally invasive esophagectomies (MIE) in a non-university tertiary care center.
  
  
  METHODS
  MIE in the form of a combined thoracoscopic and laparoscopic technique was performed cooperatively by 2 surgeons. Records of patients who underwent MIE between September 2005 and August 2008 were retrospectively reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-four patients underwent MIE over a 3-year period. There was a male predominance. Mean age at presentation was 62.6 years. Comorbidities were documented in 79% of the patients. Most patients (68%) presented with dysphagia. Two patients had end-stage achalasia, 1 had corrosive esophageal stricture, and 31 had esophageal malignancies. No mortalities were reported. No anastomotic leaks were observed. Eighteen (58%) patients with malignancy received preoperative chemoradiotherapy. Six (33%) patients had a pathological response (CR) on final histopathology. The mean operating time was 294 minutes. The mean blood loss was 302 mL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Minimally invasive esophagectomy can be performed with results that meet and exceed reported benchmarks. A team-based approach greatly impacts the outcome of the surgery. This surgical technique must be standardized to achieve this outcome.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Center, Methodist Dallas Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khithani
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jay
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Galanopoulos
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Curtis
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vo
authors.forename: D Rohan
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Jeyarajah
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000379:methods*; D004945:Esophagoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013906:Thoracoscopy