Comparison of single- and multi-incision minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) for treating esophageal cancer: a propensity-matched study.
To compare the perioperative outcome of minimally invasive (MIE) esophagectomy performed with a single- or a multi-incision in treating esophageal cancer.



Patients with esophageal cancer who underwent MIE from 2006 to 2016 were evaluated. A 3-4-cm incision was created in both the thoracoscopic and the laparoscopic phases during the single-incision MIE procedures. A propensity-matched comparison was made between the two groups of patients.



We analyzed a total of 48 pairs of patients with propensity-matched from the cohort of 360 patients undergoing MIE during 2006-2015. There is no statistical difference in terms of postoperative ICU and hospital stay, number of dissected lymph nodes and presence of major surgical complications (anastomotic leakage and pulmonary complications) between the two groups of patients. The pain score one week after surgery was significantly lower in the single-incision group (p < 0.05). There was no surgical mortality in the single-incision MIE group.



Minimally invasive esophagectomy performed with a single-incision approach is feasible for treating patients with esophageal cancer, with a comparable perioperative outcome with that of multi-incision approaches. The postoperative pain one week after surgery was significantly reduced in patients undergoing single-incision MIE.
Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, 7, Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei, Taiwan. ntuhlee@yahoo.com.
Jang-Ming
JM
Lee
Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, 7, Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei, Taiwan.
Shang-Chi
SC
Chen
Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, 7, Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei, Taiwan.
Shun-Mao
SM
Yang
Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, 7, Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei, Taiwan.
Ying-Fan
YF
Tseng
Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, 7, Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei, Taiwan.
Pei-Wen
PW
Yang
Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, 7, Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei, Taiwan.
Pei-Ming
PM
Huang
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D057216:Propensity Score; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013906:Thoracoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
Minimally invasive esophagectomy; Multiple incisions; Propensity-matched study; Single incision