Abstract: Objective To evaluate the modularized operative process during video assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.
Methods The clinical data of 45 patients with esophageal cancer who were admitted to the Daping Hospital from December 2011 to December 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. The influence of modularized operative process on the intra and post operative condition and short term complications after video assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy+esophagogastric anastomosis were analyzed to investigate the efficacy and value of modularized operative process. Patients received video assisted thoracoscopic and laparoscopic resection of esophageal carcinoma or thoracoscopic resection of esophageal carcinoma+gastric mobilization. Thoracoscopic esophageal mobilization and mediastinal lymph nodes dissection were done according to the modularized operative process: (1) Pulmonary ligament mobilization and groups 8L and 9 lymph nodes dissection. (2) Mobilization of the esophagus under the arcus venae azygos. (3) Mobilization of esophagus above the arcus venae azygos. (4) Transection of the arcus venae azygos. (5) Complete removal of thorax esophgus. (6) Ligation of thoracic duct. (7) Dissection of groups 4, 5, 7, 10 and 2L lymph nodes. All the patients were followed up via phone call or mail till February 2013. Patients received thoracoabdominal computed tomography and gastrofiberscopy to detect tumor recurrence or metastasis every 3 months within the first year after the operation, and they were re examinated every half year at 1 year later.
Results Of the 45 patients, 29 received video assisted thoracoscopic and laparoscopic resection of esophageal carcinoma and 16 received video assisted thoracoscopic resection of esophageal carcinoma+gastric mobilization. The length of the tumor was (4.2±2.5)cm. The numbers of patients in AJCC T1, T2, T3 and T4 stages were 7, 14, 15 and 9, and the number of patients with AJCC N0, N1, N2, N3 stages were 23, 13, 7, 2, respectively. The intrathoracic operation time, total operation time, volume of intraoperative blood loss, number of lymph node resected and postoperative duration of hospital stay were (72±13)minutes, (249±39)minutes, (183±62)ml, 27±7, (18±7)days, respectively. Two patients were transferred to open surgery. No patient died postoperatively, and 11 complications were detected after the operation. Six patients were complicated with cervical anastomotic fistula, 4 with anastomotic stricture and 3 with hoarseness. Forty five patients were followed for 1.5 14.0 months with the median follow up time of 8 months. One patient died of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage at postoperative month 12, and 1 died of multi organ dysfunction syndrome at postoperative month 8. The remaining 43 patients survived.
Conclusions The modularized operative process for thoracoscopic esophagectomy is safe and effective, its short term efficacy is satisfactory.