Totally minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) is nowadays en vogue.1 2 3 4 5 There are several reports showing that already partial minimally invasive esophagectomies (hybrid esophagectomies) with a ...laparoscopic approach and open transthoracic resection are beneficial for patients due to the reduced operative trauma. Also for total MIE several groups have reported benefits for patients in terms of morbidity and quality of life.1 5 However, different approaches and experiences of different esophageal surgery groups are hardly comparable and thus do not allow a simple answer in favor of a specific total MIE technique. To enlighten the field of total MIE, we present the technique as we perform this procedure nearly weekly in our department. The described MIE technique is safe and feasible. Changing to this demonstrating technique, we did not have any mortality so far, even in the first 30 cases. Especially for surgeons who plan to switch from the open surgical technique toward hybrid, MIE or robotic-assisted MIE.
Robotic-assisted surgery is rapidly increasing, especially in general surgery. It has been shown for years that the minimal invasive esophagectomy (MIE) is possible using a robotic system, for ...example, da Vinci Xi, Intuitive Surgical. In the past, most robotic esophageal resections have been performed thoracoscopically, and the anastomosis was mostly sutured at the neck. Due to the increase of usable instruments and technical progress, it is possible to perform the total abdominothoracic esophagectomy with an intrathoracic sutured anastomosis robotically. In this article, we would like to present the standardized operation technique and tricks for the robotic-assisted (da Vinci Xi) Ivor Lewis MIE (RAMIE), especially the robotic technique in combination with a standardized intrathoracic circular end-to-side stapled esophagogastric anastomosis.
Background
Robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (RAMIE) with intrathoracic anastomosis is gaining popularity as a treatment for esophageal cancer. The aim of this study was to describe ...postoperative complications and short-term oncologic outcomes for RAMIE procedures using the da Vinci Xi robotic system 4-arm technique.
Methods
Data of 100 consecutive patients with esophageal or gastro-esophageal junction carcinoma undergoing modified Ivor Lewis esophagectomy were prospectively collected. All operations were performed by the same surgeon using an identical intrathoracic anastomotic reconstruction technique with the same perioperative management. Intraoperative and postoperative complications were graded according to Esophagectomy Complications Consensus Group (ECCG) definitions.
Results
Mean duration was 416 min (±80); 70% of patients had an uncomplicated postoperative recovery. Pulmonary complications were observed in 17% of patients. Anastomotic leakage was observed in 8% of patients. Median ICU stay was 1 day and median overall postoperative hospital stay was 11 days. The 30-day mortality was 1%; 90-day mortality was 3%. A R0 resection was reached in 92% of patients with a median number of 29 dissected lymph nodes. All patients had at least 7 months of follow-up with a median follow-up of 17 months. Median overall survival was not reached yet.
Conclusion
RAMIE with intrathoracic anastomosis (Ivor Lewis) for esophageal or gastro-esophageal junction cancer was technically feasible and safe. Postoperative complications and short-term oncologic results were comparable to the highest international standards nowadays.
To define "best possible" outcomes in total minimally invasive transthoracic esophagectomy (ttMIE).
TtMIE, performed by experts in patients with low comorbidity, may serve as a benchmark procedure ...for esophagectomy.
From a cohort of 1057 ttMIE, performed over a 5-year period in 13 high-volume centers for esophageal surgery, we selected a study group of 334 patients (31.6%) that fulfilled criteria of low comorbidity (American Society of Anesthesiologists score ≤2, WHO/ECOG score ≤1, age ≤65 years, body mass index 19-29 kg/m). Endpoints included postoperative morbidity measured by the Clavien-Dindo classification and the comprehensive complication index. Benchmark values were defined as the 75th percentile of the median outcome parameters of the participating centers to represent best achievable results.
Benchmark patients were predominantly male (82.9%) with a median age of 58 years (53-62). High intrathoracic (Ivor Lewis) and cervical esophagogastrostomy (McKeown) were performed in 188 (56.3%) and 146 (43.7%) patients, respectively. Median (IQR) ICU and hospital stay was 0 (0-2) and 12 (9-18) days, respectively. 56.0% of patients developed at least 1 complication, and 26.9% experienced major morbidity (≥grade III), mostly related to pulmonary complications (25.7%), anastomotic leakage (15.9%), and cardiac events (13.5%). Benchmark values at 30 days after hospital discharge were ≤55.7% and ≤30.8% for overall and major complications, ≤18.0% for readmission, ≤3.1% for positive resection margins, and ≥23 for lymph node yield. Benchmarks at 30 and 90 days were ≤1.0% and ≤4.6% for mortality, and ≤40.8 and ≤42.8 for the comprehensive complication index, respectively.
This outcome analysis of patients with low comorbidity undergoing ttMIE may serve as a reference to evaluate surgical performance in major esophageal resection.
Esophagectomy is a technically challenging procedure, associated with significant morbidity. The introduction of minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) has reduced postoperative morbidity.
Although ...the short-term effect on complications is increasingly being recognized, the impact on long-term survival remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the association between postoperative complications following MIE and long-term survival.
Data were collected from the EsoBenchmark Collaborative composed by 13 high-volume, expert centers routinely performing MIE. Patients operated between June 1, 2011 and May 31, 2016 were included. Complications were graded using the Clavien-Dindo (CD) classification. To correct for short-term effects of postoperative complications on mortality, patients who died within 90 days postoperative were excluded. Primary endpoint was 5-year overall survival.
A total of 915 patients were included with a mean follow-up time of 30.8 months (standard deviation 17.9). Complications occurred in 542 patients (59.2%) of which 50.2% had a CD grade ≥III complication ie, (re)intervention, organ dysfunction, or death. The incidence of anastomotic leakage (AL) was 135 of 915 patients (14.8%) of which 84 patients were classified as a CD grade ≥III. Multivariable analysis showed a significantly deteriorated long-term survival in all patients with AL hazard ratio (HR) 1.68, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.25-2.24. This inverse relation was most distinct when AL was scored as a CD grade ≥III (HR 1.83, 95% CI 1.30-2.58). For all other complications, no significant association with long-term survival was found.
The occurrence and severity of AL, but not overall complications, after MIE negatively affect long-term survival of esophageal cancer patients.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a prevalent problem among obese individuals, is strongly associated with obesity and weight loss. Hence, bariatric surgery effectively improves GERD for many ...patients. Depending on the type of bariatric procedure, however, surgery can also worsen or even cause a new onset of GERD. As a consequence, GERD remains a relevant problem for many bariatric patients, and especially those who have undergone sleeve gastrectomy (SG). Affected patients report not only a decrease in physical functioning but also suffer from mental and emotional problems, resulting in poorer social functioning. The pathomechanism of GERD after SG is most likely multifactorial and triggered by the interaction of anatomical, physiological, and physical factors. Contributing factors include the shape of the sleeve, the extent of injury to the lower esophageal sphincter, and the presence of hiatal hernia. In order to successfully treat post‐sleeve gastrectomy GERD, the cause of the problem must first be identified. Therapeutic approaches include lifestyle changes, medication, interventional treatment, and/or revisional surgery.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a prevalent problem among obese individuals. For many of these patients, bariatric surgery effectively improves GERD, but it can also worsen or even cause a new onset of GERD, especially for those who have undergone sleeve gastrectomy (SG). In our narrative review, possible pathomechanisms of GERD after SG are discussed, and available strategies for preventing and treating GERD after SG are elucidated.
Minimally invasive Ivor-Lewis Esophagectomy (MIE) is widely accepted as a surgical treatment of resectable esophageal cancer. Aim of this paper is to describe the surgical details of our standardized ...MIE technique and its safety. We also evaluate the esophageal mobilization in semiprone compared to the left lateral position. A retrospective analysis of 141 consecutive patients who underwent Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy for cancer, from February 2016 to September 2021, was conducted. All the procedures were performed by totally thoraco-laparoscopic with an intrathoracic end-to-side circular stapled anastomosis. Thoracic phase was performed in left lateral position (LLP-group, n=47) followed by a semiprone position (SP-group, n=94). The intraoperative and postoperative outcomes were prospectively collected and analyzed. The procedure was completed without intraoperative complication in 94.68% of cases in SP-group and in 93.62% of cases in LLP-group (P=0.99). The total operative time and thoracic operative time were significantly shorter in SP-group (P=0.0096; P=0.009). No statistically significant differences were detected in postoperative outcomes between the groups, except for anastomotic strictures (higher in LLP-group, P=0.02) and intensive care unit stay (longer in LLP-group, P=00.1). No reoperation was needed in any cases. Surgical radicality was comparable; the median of harvested lymph nodes was significantly higher in SP-group (P<0.0001). The present semiprone technique of thoraco-laparoscopic Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy is safe and feasible but may also provide some advantages in terms of lymph nodes harvested and total operation time.
The aim of this study was to describe anastomotic techniques used for total minimally invasive transthoracic esophagectomy (ttMIE) and to analyze the associated morbidity.
ttMIE faces increasing ...application in surgical treatment of esophageal cancer. For esophagogastric reconstruction, different anastomotic techniques are currently used, but their effect on postoperative anastomotic leakage and morbidity has not been investigated.
Patients were selected from a basic dataset, collected during a 5-year period from 13 international surgical high-volume centers. Endpoints were anastomotic leakage rate and postoperative morbidity in correlation to anastomotic techniques, measured by the Clavien-Dindo classification and the Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI).
Five anastomotic techniques were identified in 966 patients after ttMIE: intrathoracic end-to-side circular-stapled technique in 427 patients (double-stapling n = 90, purse-string n = 337), intrathoracic (n = 109) or cervical (n = 255) side-to-side linear-stapled, and cervical end-to-side hand-sewn (n = 175). Leakage rates were similar in intrathoracic and cervical anastomoses (15.9% vs 17.2%, P = 0.601), but overall complications (56.7%% vs 63.7%, P = 0.029) and median 90-day CCI {21 interquartile range (IQR) 0-36 vs 29 IQR 0-40, P = 0.019} favored intrathoracic reconstructions. Leakage rates after intrathoracic end-to-side double-stapling (23.3%) and cervical end-to-side hand-sewn (25.1%) techniques were significantly higher compared with intrathoracic side-to-side linear (15.6%), end-to-side purse-string (13.9%), and cervical side-to-side linear-stapled esophagogastrostomies (11.8%) (P < 0.001). Multivariable analysis confirmed anastomotic technique as independent predictor of leakage after ttMIE.
Results of this analysis present the current status of the technical evolution of ttMIE with anastomotic leakage as predominant surgical complication. However, technique-related morbidity requires cautious interpretation considering the long learning curve of this complex surgical procedure.
Despite improvements in operative strategies for esophageal resection, anastomotic leaks, fistula, postoperative pulmonary complications, and chylothorax can occur. Our review seeks to identify ...potential risk factors, modalities for early diagnosis, and novel interventions that may ameliorate the potential adverse effects of these surgical complications following esophagectomy.
Surgical complications, such as anastomotic leaks, fistulas, postoperative pulmonary complications, and chylothoraxes, can occur following esophagectomy. This review seeks to identify potential risk factors, modalities for early diagnosis, and novel interventions that may ameliorate the potential adverse effects of these complications.
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