title: Comparison of short-term outcomes between prone and lateral decubitus positions for thoracoscopic esophagectomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prone thoracoscopic esophagectomy was introduced at our institution from 2012. This study describes our experiences of the main differences between thoracoscopic esophagectomy in the prone and traditional left lateral decubitus positions together with an analysis of the short-term surgical outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 87 patients undergoing thoracoscopic esophagectomy between January 2012 and October 2013 at Tohoku University Hospital were enrolled; of these, 54 and 33 patients were operated in the prone (Group P) and lateral decubitus (Group L) positions, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The background of the patients was similar, and there was no in-hospital mortality. There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of whole surgical duration, thoracic duration, and number of dissected lymph nodes. Total blood loss and thoracic estimated blood loss were significantly lower in Group P than Group L. Furthermore, postoperative pulmonary complications, intensive care unit stay, and hospital stay were significantly lower in Group P.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thoracoscopic esophagectomy in the prone position is feasible and safe. The prone position technique may be superior to conventional lateral decubitus position esophagectomy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Advanced Surgical Science and Technology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai-shi, Miyagi-ken, 980-8575, Japan, jintesshy@yahoo.co.jp.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Teshima
authors.forename: Go
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Miyata
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kamei
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.forename: Shigeo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Kazunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Katsura
authors.forename: Yusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Taniyama
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakurai
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hikage
authors.forename: Takanobu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takaya
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zuguchi
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.forename: Ozawa
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Youhei
authors.forename: Noriaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ohuchi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061646:Operative Time; D056888:Patient Positioning / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D011184:Postoperative Period; D016684:Prone Position; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013906:Thoracoscopy / Q000379:methods*