title: [Comparative study of perioperative complications and lymphadenectomy between minimally invasive esophagectomy and open procedure].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the differences in perioperative morbidity and lymph node dissection between minimally invasive esophageal carcinoma resection and open procedure.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January to December 2011, 72 patients with esophageal cancer underwent surgery. Thirty-four patients underwent video-assisted esophagectomy, and 38 underwent open procedure. In the minimally invasive group, there were 7 thoraco-laparoscopic cases, 16 thoracoscopic cases, and 11 laparoscopic cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The early cases (T1-T2) were more common in the minimally invasive group than that in the open group [79.4%(27/34) vs. 55.3%(21/38), P<0.05]. The complication rate was 41.2%(11/34) in the open group and 42.1%(16/38) in the minimally invasive group, and the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). However, the functional complication in minimally invasive group was significantly lower than that in open group [2.9%(1/34) vs. 28.9%(11/38), P<0.01], while technical complications (anastomotic leak and recurrent laryngeal nerve injury) were significantly more common( 38.2% vs. 10.5%, P<0.05). Lymph node group number in minimally invasive group was comparable with the open group (9.1 vs. 11.2, P>0.05), but the number of node in minimally invasive group was significantly lower (13.5±5.9 vs. 17.8±5.2, P<0.05). When stratified by time period, early 17 cases were associated with similar technical complication rate with the late 17 cases (P>0.05), while thoracic lymph node group number, number of node, and positive node were improved in the late phase (all P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Minimally invasive esophagectomy reduces functional morbidity, while technical complication including anastomotic leak and recurrent laryngeal nerve injury may be increased. Endoscopic lymph node dissection may be comparable to open surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Teng
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Wen-tao
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Zhi-tao
authors.initials: ZT
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Xu-feng
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Wen-hu
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013906:Thoracoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome