title: [Comparison of thoraco-laparoscopic and open three-field subtotal esophagectomy for esophageal cancer].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the safety and efficacy of thoraco-laparoscopic subtotal esophagectomy in the treatment of esophageal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical data of 98 patients with esophageal cancer who underwent thoraco-laparoscopic subtotal esophagectomy from March 2009 to October 2011 were retrospectively analyzed. One hundred and five patients were served as controls who underwent open three-field subtotal esophagectomy in the same period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significant differences between thoraco-laparoscopic and open three-field subtotal esophagectomy in blood loss [(85.1±32.8) ml vs. (215.5±60.6) ml], length of stay [(12.7±3.5) d vs. (16.9±4.5) d]), pneumonia (4.1% vs. 12.4%, P<0.05), atelectasis (3.1% vs. 10.5%, P<0.05), pleural effusion (3.1% vs. 10.5%, P<0.05), acute respiratory distress (1.0% vs. 7.6%, P<0.05) and arrhythmia (4.1% vs. 12.4%, P<0.05). No significant differences were observed in the number of lymph node harvested, operative time, anastomotic leak, thoracic abscess, chyle chest, re-laparotomy, re-thoracotomy, vocal cord paralysis, renal failure, gastric emptying, and mortality (all P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thoraco-laparoscopic subtotal esophagectomy is technically feasible and safe and is associated with less blood loss, less cardiopulmonary complication, and shorter hospital stay.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Affiliated Tumor Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Bao-xing
authors.initials: BX
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jian-jun
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Rui-xiang
authors.initials: RX
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xian-ben
authors.initials: XB
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hai-bo
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Shi-lei
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013906:Thoracoscopy; D016896:Treatment Outcome