Video-assisted Thoracoscopy for Benign Esophageal Neoplasm:Report of 56 Cases / 中国微创外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To report our experience on video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery(VAMT)for the treatment of benign esophageal neoplasm.Methods A total of 56 patients with benign esophageal neoplasm received VATS with or without auxiliary mini-thoracotomy in our hospital from March 1995 to January 2008.Under the assistance of a fiber gastroscope,through a 1.5-cm and two 2-cm incisions,the neoplasm was removed by using 3 trocars.In some cases,a 5-cm subaxillary incision was made.ResultsAmong the cases,the neoplasm was removed in 54 patients with VATS(with auxiliary mini-thoracotomy performed in 8),in which postoperative pathological examination showed esophageal leiomyoma in 47 and interstitialoma in 7.Two patients were converted to open surgery because of huge leiomyoma invading the muscular layer with an active growth,or low-malignant potential leiomyoma.Partial esophagectomy and end-to-end anastomosis were carried out in these two patients.No patient died intra-or peri-operation.No serious postoperative complication occurred in this series.A 2-to 128-month follow-up(mean,58.6 months)was achieved in 49 of the patients,none of them complained of dysphagia or developed recurrence during the period.Conclusions VATS(combined with mini-thoracotomy)is safe and effective for benign esophageal neoplasm.It can be the first choice for the treatment of the disease.