ABSTRACT
Objective To study the indication,feasibility and short-term efficacy of combined thoracoscopic and laparoscopic radical esophagectomy for the treatment of esophageal cancer.Methods Retrospective medical records analysis was conducted for 139 esophageal cancer patients who underwent combined thoracoscopic and laparoscopic esophagectomy in our department from December 2009 to August 2011.The tumors were located in upper esophagus in 16 cases,middle esophagus in 107 cases,and lower esophagus in 16 cases.The surgery started with the thoracoscopic mobilization of thoracic esophagus and lymph nodes dissection,which were followed by the laparoscopic stomach mobilization and gastroesophageal anastomosis in left neck.Postoperative pathological staging identified stage Ⅰ esophageal cancer in 25 cases ( stage Ⅰ a:13 cases,stage Ⅰ b:12 cases),stage Ⅱ esophageal cancer in 71 cases,stage Ⅲ esophageal cancer in 31 cases ( stage Ⅲ a:16 cases,stage Ⅲ b:15 cases) and stage Ⅳ esophageal cancer in 12 cases.Results Except for open conversions in 4 cases (2.9％),all surgical operations were completed smoothly.Postoperative anastomotic leak was found in 6 cases(4.3％ ),chylothorax in 1 case(0.7％ ),arrhythmia in 4 cases(2.9％ ),and dumping syndrome in 1 case( 0.7％ ).All of these complicated cases fully recovered after conservative treatments.Postoperative lung infection was found 11 cases (7.9％),3 of whom required tracheotomy and assisted ventilation and 1 case died as a result of the infection (mortality rate:0.7％ ).Ten cases(7.2％ ) presented with hoarseness postoperatively.Out of the 139 cases,130 cases were successfully followed up with durations ranged from 1 to 20 months,during of time the esophageal cancer spread to liver in 2 cases,celiac lymph nodes in 4 cases,lung in 2 cases,and bone in 1 case.Ten cases died,and all remaining cases remained alive during the follow up.The one-year survival rate was 88.9％ for these cases.Conclusion Combined thoracoscopic and laparoscopic radical esophagectomy is a technically safe and feasible treatment for esophageal cancer.The short-term efficacy results are satisfactory.This technique is indicated not only for early and middle stage esophageal cancer,but also for some of the advanced esophageal cancer cases.