Minimally invasive surgery for oesophageal cancer.
Worldwide an increasing part of oncologic oesophagectomies is performed in a minimally invasive way. Over the past decades multiple reports have addressed the perioperative outcomes and oncologic safety of minimally invasive oesophageal surgery. Although many of these (retrospective) case-control studies identified minimally invasive oesophagectomy as a safe alternative to open techniques, the clear benefit remained subject to debate. Recently, this controversy has partially resolved due to the results of the first randomized controlled trial that compared both techniques. In this trial short-term benefits of minimally invasive oesophagectomy were demonstrated in terms of lower incidence of pulmonary infections, shorter hospital stay and better postoperative quality of life. However, the current lack of long-term data on recurrence rate and overall survival precludes a comprehensive comparison of minimally invasive and open oesophagectomy. Proclaiming minimally invasive oesophagectomy as the standard of care for patients with resectable oesophageal cancer would therefore be a premature decision.
Department of Surgery, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: m.c.anderegg@amc.nl.
Maarten C J
MC
Anderegg
Department of Surgery, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: s.s.gisbertz@amc.nl.
Suzanne S
SS
Gisbertz
Department of Surgery, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: m.i.vanbergehenegouwen@amc.nl.
Mark I
MI
van Berge Henegouwen
D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality / Q000592:standards; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000209:etiology; D018579:Patient Selection; D012307:Risk Factors; D012371:Robotics; D059039:Standard of Care; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted; D019616:Thoracic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality / Q000592:standards; D016896:Treatment Outcome
Laparoscopy; Minimally invasive surgery; Oesophageal cancer; Oesophagectomy; Thoracoscopy