Comparative study on long-term survival results between minimally invasive surgery and traditional resection for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
To investigate the long-term survival between minimally invasive surgery and traditional resection in the treatment of stage I esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.



240 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were divided randomly into the study group (120 cases) treated by minimally invasive surgery and the control group (120 cases) treated by traditional resection. Patients were followed-up by phone or visiting, and were observed for survival rates, complications and quality of life.



The study group survival rates of one, three and five years are 92.6%, 88.5% and 67.6%, respectively. The control group survival rates of one, three and five years are 87.1%, 76.3% and 52.5%, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.01). The post-operative complication rate was 12.5% in the study group and 33.3% in the control group and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). Furthermore, the post-operative quality of life of patients in the study group are improved. 96.7% (116/120) are above 70 in Karnofsky score, with most surviving patients living independently, and having lighter self-reported symptoms. 81.7% (98/120) of patients in the control group are above 70 in Karnofsky score, and the Karnofsky score of post-operative quality of life between the two groups is statistically significant (p<0.05).



Compared with traditional resection, minimally invasive surgery is advantageous in improving both survival rates and quality of life, and is thereby worthy of clinical promotion and application.
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Weifang People's Hospital, Weifang, Shandong, China. lu_hengxiao1@163.com.
Z-Q
ZQ
Yang
H-X
HX
Lu
J-H
JH
Zhang
J
J
Wang
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D000077277:Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; D006801:Humans; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D011788:Quality of Life