Application of mesoesophagus suspension technique in upper mediastinal lymph node dissection during thoracoscopic esophagectomy / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the application of mesoesophagus suspension technique to improve the upper mediastinal lymph node dissection during thoracoscopic esophagectomy in the treatment of esophageal cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical data of 164 thoracic esophageal cancer patients who underwent combined thoracoscopic and laparoscopic esophagectomy with two-field lymph node dissection in the Union Hospital of Fujian Medical University between October 2012 and June 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. Among 164 patients, 80 cases underwent upper mediastinal lymph node dissection by traditional method (traditional group), and the remaining 84 cases underwent upper mediastinal lymph node dissection by mesoesophagus suspension technique (suspension group). The operation time, estimated blood loss, number of excised lymph nodes and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were no significant differences in gender, age, location of tumor and pathology stage between the two groups. The operation time in the two groups was similar. The suspension group had significantly less thoracic blood loss than traditional group [(85±5) ml vs.(140±7) ml, P=0.000]. The number of dissected lymph nodes of bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve was more in suspension group [median (interquartile range): left: 3 (2 to 4) vs. 2 (1 to 3), P=0.013; right: 3(2 to 6) vs. 2(1 to 3), P=0.007]. There was no significant difference in metastatic rate of lymph node in different sites between the two groups. The highest metastatic rate of suspension and traditional group was found at paracardia lymph nodes[22.6%(19/84) and 22.5%(18/80)], the next was at right laryngeal nerve lymph nodes [17.9%(15/84) and 15.0%(12/80)] and left laryngeal nerve lymph nodes [16.7%(14/84) and 12.5%(10/80)]. There were no significant differences with regard to the incidence of major postoperative complications between two groups, including respiratory complication, anastomotic leakage, vocal cord palsy.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Upper mediastinal bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve lymph node is the predilection site of lymphatic metastasis of thoracic esophageal cancer. Application of mesoesophagus suspension technique in thoracoscopic esophagectomy can improve the clearance quality of bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve lymph nodes.</p>

Short-term efficacy comparison between Ivor-Lewis approach and McKeown approach in minimally invasive esophagectomy / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the perioperative complications between Ivor-Lewis approach and McKeown approach in minimally invasive esophagectomy and gastric tube reconstruction for the treatment of middle and lower thoracic esophageal cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Retrospective analysis of clinical data was performed on 288 patients with middle and lower thoracic esophageal cancer who underwent completely minimally invasive esophagectomy by one surgical team in Fujian Medical University Union Hospital from December 2010 to March 2014. Among the 288 patients, 103 patients underwent combined laparoscopic and thoracoscopic esophagectomy and intrathoracic esophagogastric anastomosis using a transoral anvil(Orvil)(Ivor-Lewis group, 2-incision) and 185 patients underwent combined laparoscopic and thoracoscopic esophagectomy and cervical anastomosis(McKeown group, 3-incision). Patients were stratified by surgical approach and perioperative outcomes were compared between the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were no statistical differences between two groups in intra-operative blood loss, conversion to open, extubation time, time to resume oral intake, postoperative hospital stay, the median number of lymph nodes resected. The operation time of Ivor-Lewis group was significantly shorter than that of McKeown group [(283.4±32.0) min vs. (303.6±43.7) min, P=0.003). The hospital cost of Ivor-Lewis group was significantly higher than that of McKeown group [(76 492±18 553) yuan vs. (68 923±17 331) yuan, P<0.01]. There were no statistical differences between two groups in chylothorax, delayed gastric emptying, atrial fibrillation, postoperative bleeding, admission to ICU, short-term postoperative mortality (P>0.05). The total postoperative complication morbidity of Ivor-Lewis group was significantly lower than that of McKeown group(16.5% vs. 31.4%, P<0.01). Ivor-Lewis group had lower pulmonary complication(8.7% vs. 25.9%, P<0.01), anastomotic leakage(1.9% vs. 13.0%, P<0.01), anastomotic stricture (0% vs. 4.9%, P<0.05), recurrent laryngeal nerve injury(1.0% vs. 7.0%, P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Ivor-Lewis approach is associated with less postoperative complications, but higher cost as compared to McKeown approach in the treatment of middle and lower thoracic esophageal cancer.</p>