title: Combined thoracoscopic-laparoscopic esophagectomy versus open esophagectomy: a meta-analysis of outcomes.
abstract: At present there is controversy regarding the optimal surgical method for esophageal cancer. Specifically, whether combined thoracoscopic-laparoscopic esophagectomy is superior to open esophagectomy with respect to the surgical wound, perioperative morbidities and mortality, and the overall survival rate is of great concern. This article aimed to compare thoracoscopic-laparoscopic esophagectomy versus open esophagectomy on the perioperative morbidities and long-term survival.
  
  
  
  PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar databases were searched for relevant studies comparing combined thoracoscopic-laparoscopic esophagectomy with open esophagectomy using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systemic Reviews and Meta-Analyses standards. Odds ratios were extracted to give pooled estimates of the perioperative effect of the two surgical procedures. Hazard ratios were extracted to compare overall survival between the two surgical procedures.
  
  
  
  Thirteen studies involving 1549 patients were included in this meta-analysis. We found that patients that underwent combined thoracoscopic-laparoscopic esophagectomy had lower total complication rates (relative risk 1.20; 95 % CI 1.08-1.34; p = 0.0009), wound infection rates, pulmonary complications, and less intraoperative blood loss. Moreover, our study also showed combined thoracoscopic-laparoscopic esophagectomy did not compromise the 5-year survival rate (hazard risk 0.920; 95 % CI 0.720-1.176; p = 0.505) and even improved 2-year survival rate. The 30-day mortality and other common morbidities, including anastomotic leakage, anastomotic stricture, pulmonary infection, chylothorax, arrhythmia, or recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, were not significantly different between combined thoracoscopic-laparoscopic esophagectomy and traditional open esophagectomy (p > 0.05).
  
  
  
  Combined thoracoscopic-laparoscopic esophagectomy is a feasible and reliable surgical procedure that can achieve uncompromising long-term survival rates and reduce perioperative complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center (FUSCC), Shanghai, 200032, China.|Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center (FUSCC), Shanghai, 200032, China.|Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.
authors.forename: Su
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.|Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center (FUSCC), Shanghai, 200032, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoli
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: School of Statistic, Renmin University of China, Beijing, 100086, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center (FUSCC), Shanghai, 200032, China.|Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
authors.forename: Jiaqing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, 3000, Louvain, Belgium.
authors.forename: Toni
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lerut
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China. lihecheng2000@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Hecheng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013906:Thoracoscopy / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Esophageal cancer; Esophagectomy; Laparoscopy; Meta-analysis; Minimally invasive surgery; Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery