Objective To investigate the short‑term clinical efficacy of laparo-gastroscopic esophagectomy (LGE).

Methods The retrospective and descriptive study was conducted. The clini-copathological data of 11 patients with esophageal cancer who underwent LGE in the Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University from June 2020 to October 2021 were collected. There were 8 males and 3 females, aged (68±4)years. Sorted by operation time, the sentinel lymph nodes navigation (SLN) was performed since the sixth patient in the cohort, and abdominal surgery and neck surgery were performed simultaneously to complete LGE. Observation indicators: (1) surgical situations; (2) postoperative situations; (3) follow‑up. Follow‑up was conducted using outpatient examination or telephone interview to detect death of patients during postoperative 30 days. Patients were followed up during postoperative 30 days. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean±SD, and count data were described as absolute numbers.

Results (1) Surgical situations. Of the 11 patients, 5 cases received SLN with satisfactory visualization, 6 cases did not receive SLN, 1 case terminated the operation as sentinel lymph nodes biopsy showing positive results and the rest of 10 cases completed LGE successfully without conversion to thoracotomy. The operation time and tumor diameter of the 10 patients completing LGE was (204±27)minutes and (2.5±1.0)cm, respec-tively. (2) Postoperative situations. Of the 10 patients completing LGE, 2 cases had pulmonary complications after surgery and recovered well with symptomatic treatment, and none of patient had anastomotic leakage or other serious complication. Results of postoperative histopathological examination showed squamous cell carcinoma in the 10 patients completing LGE. Nine patients were classified as T1b‒3N0M0 stage and 1 patient was classified as T1bN1M0 stage. Ten patients completing LGE had R₀ resection and the number of lymph nodes dissected was 14±4. There were 3 cases with nerve bundle invasion, 2 cases with vascular invasion and 5 cases without nerve bundle and vascular invasion. The postoperative treatment time at intensive care unit and duration of hospital stay of the 10 patients completing LGE were (4.0±2.4)days and (7.2±1.5)days. (3) Follow‑up. The 10 patients completing LGE were followed up and none of them died during the postoperative 30 days.

Conclusions LGE is safe and feasible. Combined with SLN can guarantee the oncology effect of surgery.