title: Role of 3D in minimally invasive esophagectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Two-stage minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) has gained popularity in the surgical treatment of esophageal cancer. MIE's limitation is embedded in the construction of intrathoracic anastomosis. Various anastomotic techniques have been reported; however, the mechanical one remains the most commonly adopted. This pilot study aims to describe an efficient, safe, and reproducible way of performing a hand-sewn intrathoracic esophagogastric anastomosis in conjunction with short-term results using 2D and 3D thoracoscopic approaches.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of n = 13 patients (mean age 67.4) underwent MIE for distal esophageal or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma between January and September 2016. Resection was performed in prone position, and the esophagogastric anastomosis was constructed in an end-to-side manner in two layers with barbed knotless suture. A 2D thoracoscopic approach was used in n = 10 patients (77%) and a 3D approach in n = 3 (23%).
  
  
  RESULTS
  n = 8 patients (61.5%) had neo-adjuvant chemotherapy and n = 5 (38.5%) had primary surgery. The mean operating time was 420 min, and the average length of stay was 10 days with no associated mortality. n = 1 (7.7%) developed a radiological leak that did not require an intervention. Thoracoscopic approach with the glasses-based 3D optical system using the angulating-tip 100° camera provided a far superior view for precise lymphadenectomy in combination to an efficient and safe construction of the anastomosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The barbed knotless suturing technique in MIE is an efficient and safe method of constructing the esophagogastric anastomosis with promising short-term outcomes. A 3D thoracoscopic approach appears to be superior in performing the anastomosis to that of a 2D technique.
authors.affiliation: Regional Oesophagogastric Cancer Centre, Department of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery, Broomfield Hospital, Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust, Chelmsford, CM1 7ET, Essex, UK. acharalabopoulos@yahoo.com.|Upper GI Unit, Department of General Surgery, Broomfield Hospital, Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust, Chelmsford, CM1 7ET, Essex, UK. acharalabopoulos@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Alexandros
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1835-4723
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Charalabopoulos
authors.affiliation: Regional Oesophagogastric Cancer Centre, Department of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery, Broomfield Hospital, Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust, Chelmsford, CM1 7ET, Essex, UK.|Upper GI Unit, Department of General Surgery, Broomfield Hospital, Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust, Chelmsford, CM1 7ET, Essex, UK.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lorenzi
authors.affiliation: Regional Oesophagogastric Cancer Centre, Department of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery, Broomfield Hospital, Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust, Chelmsford, CM1 7ET, Essex, UK.|Upper GI Unit, Department of General Surgery, Broomfield Hospital, Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust, Chelmsford, CM1 7ET, Essex, UK.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kordzadeh
authors.affiliation: Regional Oesophagogastric Cancer Centre, Department of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery, Broomfield Hospital, Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust, Chelmsford, CM1 7ET, Essex, UK.|Upper GI Unit, Department of General Surgery, Broomfield Hospital, Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust, Chelmsford, CM1 7ET, Essex, UK.
authors.forename: Cheuk-Bong
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Regional Oesophagogastric Cancer Centre, Department of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery, Broomfield Hospital, Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust, Chelmsford, CM1 7ET, Essex, UK.|Upper GI Unit, Department of General Surgery, Broomfield Hospital, Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust, Chelmsford, CM1 7ET, Essex, UK.
authors.forename: Sritharan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kadirkamanathan
authors.affiliation: Regional Oesophagogastric Cancer Centre, Department of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery, Broomfield Hospital, Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust, Chelmsford, CM1 7ET, Essex, UK.|Upper GI Unit, Department of General Surgery, Broomfield Hospital, Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust, Chelmsford, CM1 7ET, Essex, UK.
authors.forename: Naga Venkatesh
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Jayanthi
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000601:surgery*; D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000379:methods*; D004943:Esophagogastric Junction; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016684:Prone Position; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013906:Thoracoscopy / Q000379:methods*
keywords: 2D esophagectomy; 3D esophagectomy; Barbed sutures; Esophageal cancer; Hand-sewn intrathoracic anastomosis; Minimally invasive esophagectomy