title: The role of nanocarbon lymphatic tracer in thoraco-laparoscopic esophagectomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We investigated the application value of nanocarbon lymphatic tracer in thoraco-laparoscopic esophagectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 80 patients were enrolled and randomly divided into the experimental group (N.=40) and the control group (N.=40). Patients in the experimental group were injected with nanocarbon suspension before thoraco-laparoscopic esophagectomy, while patients in the control group underwent an operation. The total lymph node resection was observed after the operation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results showed that the incidence of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury in experimental group was less than that in the control group. The total complication rate in the experimental group was significantly less than that in the control group. The number of black-stained lymph nodes in the experimental group was significantly more than in the control group. The black stain rate of thoracic lymph nodes was significantly higher than that in abdominal lymph nodes. The lymph node metastatic ratio of the thoracic field in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group. The lymph node metastatic ratio of the abdominal field in the experimental and control groups was 3.6%, and 2.5%, respectively. The total lymph node metastatic ratio in the experimental group was more than that of the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The application of a nanocarbon tracing technique is a significant addition to the field of thoraco-laparoscopic esophagectomy, allowing a more thorough lymph node dissection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Changzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing University, Changzhou, China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Yixing Hospital, Jiangsu University, Yixing, China.
authors.forename: Jiangtao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Chaojing
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Yixing Hospital, Jiangsu University, Yixing, China - tb4k32@163.com.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002244:Carbon; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003287:Contrast Media; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods; D007830:Larynx / Q000293:injuries; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008220:Lymphography; D008297:Male; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D053758:Nanoparticles; D012307:Risk Factors; D013906:Thoracoscopy / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D002244:Carbon