Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy Is Associated with Superior Survival Compared to Open Surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) has not been associated with a long-term survival advantage compared to open esophagectomy (OE). We investigated survival differences between MIE, including laparoscopic and robotic, and OE. METHODS: Patients undergoing esophagectomy from 2010 to 2014 with T1-4N0-3M0, adenocarcinoma or squamous cell histology, in middle or lower esophagus were queried from the National Cancer Database and stratified into groups based on their surgical procedure: robotic, laparoscopic, or OE. Propensity matching (1:1) was done between robotic and laparoscopic to produce an MIE group. The MIE group was matched to OE yielding a 1:1:2 matching of robotic:laparoscopic:OE. Postoperative outcomes and survival (Kaplan-Meier) were compared between groups. RESULTS: Prior to matching, 7,163 patients met inclusion criteria and a greater portion underwent OE (67.7%) than MIE (laparoscopic 24.9% and robotic 7.4%). Matching yielded similar groups (robotic = 527, laparoscopic = 527, and OE =1054). Compared to OE, MIE patients had a significantly greater number of nodes sampled and trended toward increased R0 resections (96.1% vs 94.3%, P = .053). OE was associated with a longer median postoperative stay (10 vs 9 days, P = .001). Mortality at 30 and 90 days was similar. However, postoperative survival for MIE was significantly greater than OE (P < .001). No survival difference existed between robotic and laparoscopic (P = .723). CONCLUSIONS: MIE is associated with increased number of nodes examined and a shorter postoperative length of stay. After propensity matching, patients undergoing MIE had better long but not short-term survival than OE. This benefit seems to be independent of the use of robotic technology.

Impact of myopenia and myosteatosis in patients undergoing abdominal surgery for chronic pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND: Surgery for chronic pancreatitis is associated with major morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study is to examine the role of preoperative muscle volume and quality on postoperative outcomes in patients with chronic pancreatitis. METHODS: All patients who underwent abdominal surgery for chronic pancreatitis between 2011 and 2018 were identified from an institutional surgical database. Patient demographics, clinical indices, and perioperative computed tomography scans were collected. Myopenia and myosteatosis were measured at the L3 vertebral level. Regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for major complications (Clavien-Dindo ≥3a) and length of stay. RESULTS: Seventy-five patients were identified. Toxic-metabolic or obstructive causes were the main underlying etiologies. Thirty patients were myopenic (40%), and 36 patients were myosteatotic (48%). Sixteen patients (21%) had a major complication. Median length of stay was 10 days. Both myopenia and myosteatosis were associated with major complications (hazard ratio = 7.85, 95% confidence interval: 1.91-32.29, P = .004 and hazard ratio = 4.351, 95% confidence interval: 1.22-15.52, P = .023). Myosteatosis was associated with increased length of stay (parameter estimate = 0.297, 95% confidence interval: 0.012-0.583, P = .041). CONCLUSION: Myopenia and myosteatosis were common and significant risk factors for adverse postoperative events. Preoperative muscle assessment may help in the risk stratification of surgical patients and identify patients that require preoperative nutritional and physical optimization.