Minimally invasive esophagectomy in the treatment of esophageal cancer

• Published in: Acta chirurgica Iugoslavica Vol. 58; no. 4; pp. 27 - 30
• Main Authors: Bjelović, Milos, Stojakov, Dejan, Spica, Bratislav, Velicković, Dejan, Gunjić, Dragan, Skrobić, Ognjen, Djurasić, Ljubomir, Grujić, Danko, Pesko, Predrag
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Serbia 2011
• Subjects: Esophageal Neoplasms - surgery; Esophagectomy - adverse effects; Esophagectomy - methods; Humans; Laparoscopy; Length of Stay; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures
• ISSN: 0354-950X; 2406-0887
• DOI: 10.2298/ACI1104027B

In the Western countries, the incidence of esophaeal carcinoma is 3-6 cases per 100,000 persons. g Despite tremendous success of other therapeutic options, surgical treatment still represents the best therapeutic option whenever possible. For the long period, debate has centered on which of the a vailable surgical procedures is superior-transhiatal or transthoracic esophagectomy. Minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) could offer both minimally invasive approach and proper mediastinal lymph node dissection. Minimally invasive esophagectomy is safe and adequate, but time consuming and technically demanding procedure. It is procedure reserved for the surgeons experienced in open esophagectomy for cancer, and specially trained in advanced minimally invasive procedures. Even in that case, learning curve is steep.