Magnetic anchoring and traction technique is one of the core technologies of magnetic surgery. With the "non-contact" traction force of the outer magnet on the inner magnet, we can drive the inner magnet and the gripper to multiple directions, and pull tissue or organ to required position in operations, so as to get a clearer surgical field of view. On the basis of the previous animal experiments, we applied magnetic anchoring and traction device in 3 human (males aged 63-71 years) thoracoscopic esophagectomies. Using the magnetic anchoring device, we could pull the esophagus dorsally or ventrally to assist in exposing the anatomical plane without special equipment or pleural puncture for retraction of the esophagus. The interference between operating instruments reduced. The mean blood loss in operation was 83 mL, the mean total operation time was 253 min and the mean length of hospital stay was 10 d. Postoperative follow-up showed that all 3 patients had good short-term prognosis. There was no swellling or pain in magnetic anchoring zone of chest wall.
Objective To determine if laparoscopic assisted Ivor-Lewis cervical stapled esophagogastrostomy via a minor subaxillary incising enables better perioperative and medium-term outcome than Ivor-Lewis cervical stapled esophagogastrostomy via thorax for middle esophageal carcinoma without intumescent lymphnode of neck. Methods The perioperative and medium-term outcome of a series of 55 patients underwent Ivor-Lewis cervical stapled esophagogas-trostomy via thorax between April 2010 and December 2012 were as a historic cohort (group A, 36 males, 19 females at age of 65±8 years). And 46 patients underwent laparoscopic assisted Ivor-Lewis cervical stapled esophagogastrostomy via a minor subaxillary incising between January 2013 and March 2015 were as a prospective cohort (group B, 31males, 15 females at age of 66±7 years). Perioperative indexes, lymphadenectomy, and result at end of one year following up were compared. Results Compared with group A, there was shorter thoracic operation time (t=5.94, P < 0.05), shorter time of restored anus exhaust (t=2.08, P < 0.05), less pulmonary complication (χ2=3.08, P < 0.05) and less total perioperative complications (χ2=4.30, P < 0.05), shorter postoperative hospital stay (t=3.20, P < 0.05) in the group B. While no statistically significant difference was found between the two group in postoperative morbidity of circulation or digestive and associated with surgical techniques (all P>0.05), lymph node metastasis rate of cervico-thoracic (include cervical paraesophageal) or mediastinum or abdominal cavity (χ2=0.03, 0.15, 0.08, all P>0.05), lymph node ratio (LNR) of cervical thoracic (include cervical paraesophageal) or mediastinum or abdominal cavity (χ2=0.01,0.71, 0.01, all P>0.05), recurrence rate of tumour (χ2=0.04, P>0.05), or survival rate (χ2=0.13, P>0.05) one year after the surgery. Conclusion Laparoscopic assisted Ivor-Lewis cervical stapled esophagogastrostomy via a minor subaxillary incising is a more rational surgery of cervicothoracic and cervical paraesophageal lymph nodes dissection via intrathoracic instead of cervical approach for middle esophageal carcinoma.
Barrett’s esophagus is considered an important risk factor for the pathogenesis of esophageal adenocarcinoma. Treatment strategies for diseases from high-grade dysplasia （HGD） to adenocarcinoma are different. The recurrence rates of endoscopic treatment and anti-reflux surgery are comparatively higher. Abnormal lesions of the esophagus can be completely resected by esophagectomy for the treatment of HGD to adenocarcinoma, and treatment outcomes are confirmed.But appropriate surgical strategies and lymph node dissection scopes should be chosen according to different cancer staging.Lymph node metastasis is a major factor in determining prognosis.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the safety, feasibility and short-term outcomes of single-direction gastric mobilization under 3D-laparoscopy in minimally invasive esophagectomy for the treatment of esophageal cancer.MethodsFrom February 2018 to December 2019, 118 consecutive patients who underwent minimally invasive McKeown esophagectomy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in our hospital were included. There were 94 males and 24 females with an average age of 53.7 (41–77) years. They were divided into two groups based on the methods of gastric mobilization: a traditional dissociation (TD) group (n=55) and a single-direction mobilization (MD) group (n=63). The clinical data of the two groups were compared.ResultsEnbloc resection and a negative resection margin were obtained in all patients. There was no postoperative mortality or incision complication. The rate of postoperative complications was 22.9%. There was no significant difference in the spleen injury, gastric injury, conversion to open surgery, abdominal reoperation as well as cervical anastomotic leakage between the two groups (P>0.05). It took significantly less time in the MD group compared with the TD group (P<0.05). There was an obvious statistical difference in the incidence of gastric mobilization related complications between the MD group (1.6%, 1/63) and TD group (12.7%, 7/55, P<0.05).ConclusionApplication of single-direction gastric mobilization under 3D-laparoscopy in minimally invasive esophagectomy for the treatment of esophageal cancer is safe and easy to perform with a satisfactory short-term outcome.
ObjectiveTo explore the effect of mediastinal drainage tube placed after the esophageal cancer resection with intrathoracic anastomosis on postoperative complications such as anastomotic fistula. MethodsLiterature on the application of mediastinal drainage tubes in esophageal cancer surgery published in databases such as PubMed, EMbase, CNKI, China Biomedical Literature Database, VIP, and Wanfang were searched using English or Chinese, from the establishment of the databases to December 31, 2023. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to evaluate the quality of the included retrospective studies, the Cochrane Handbook bias risk tool was used to assess the bias risk of randomized controlled trials (RCT), and Review Manager 5.4 software was used for meta-analysis. ResultsA total of 19 retrospective studies and 8 RCT involving 6320 patients were included, with 3257 patients in the observation group (mediastinal drainage tube+closed thoracic drainage tube) and 3063 patients in the control group (closed thoracic drainage tube or single mediastinal drainage tube). The NOS score of the included literature was≥6 points, and one RCT had a low risk of bias and the other RCT had a moderate risk of bias . Meta-analysis results showed that compared with the control group, the observation group had fewer postoperative lung complications [OR=0.44, 95%CI (0.36, 0.53), P<0.001], fewer postoperative cardiac complications [OR=0.40, 95%CI (0.33, 0.49), P<0.001], earlier average diagnosis time of anastomotic fistula [MD=−3.33, 95%CI (−3.95, −2.71), P<0.001], lower inflammation indicators [body temperature: MD=−1.15, 95%CI (−1.36, −0.93), P<0.001; white cell count: MD=−5.62, 95%CI (−7.29, −3.96), P<0.001], and shorter postoperative hospital stay [MD=−15.13, 95%CI (−18.69, −11.56), P<0.001]. However, there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of postoperative anastomotic fistula between the two groups [OR=0.85, 95%CI (0.70, 1.05), P=0.13]. ConclusionPlacing a mediastinal drainage tube cannot reduce the incidence of anastomotic fistula, but it can effectively reduce the incidence of postoperative respiratory and circulatory system complications in patients and improve patients’ prognosis. It can early detect teh anastomotic fistula and fully drain digestive fluid to promote rapid healing of the fistula, alleviate the infection symptoms of postoperative anastomotic fistula, and shorten the hospital stay.
Neoadjuvant therapy has become the standard treatment for locally advanced resectable esophageal cancer, significantly improving long-term survival compared to surgery alone. Neoadjuvant therapy has evolved to include various strategies, such as concurrent chemoradiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or targeted combination therapy. This enriches clinical treatment options and provides a more personalized and scientific treatment approach for patients. This article aims to comprehensively summarize current academic research hot topics, review the rationale and evaluation measures of neoadjuvant therapy, discuss challenges in restaging methods after neoadjuvant therapy, and identify the advantages and disadvantages of various neoadjuvant therapeutic strategies.
ObjectiveTo analyze the characteristics and risk factors of lymph node metastasis in thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).MethodsThe clinical data of 407 patients with ESCC who underwent radical resection of esophageal carcinoma from December 2012 to October 2018 in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. There were 390 males and 17 females with a median age of 63 (38-82) years. Esophageal lesions were found in 26 patients of upper thoracic segment, 190 patients of middle thoracic segment and 191 patients of lower thoracic segment. ResultsAmong the patients, 232 (57.0%) were found to have cervical, thoracic and/or abdominal lymph node metastasis. The lymphatic metastasis rates of cervical, upper, middle, lower mediastinal nodes and abdominal nodes were 0.7%, 8.8%, 21.4%, 16.7% and 37.1%, respectively. The adjacent lymph node metastasis alone occurred in 50.0% patients, and the multistage or skip lymph node metastasis accounted for 29.3% and 20.7%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that the length of esophageal lesion, T stage, degree of tumor differentiation, vascular cancer embolus and nerve invasion were independent risk factors for lymph node metastasis.ConclusionThe rates of lymph node metastasis are similar in the upper, middle and lower thoracic ESCC. The main pattern of lymph node metastasis is the adjacent lymph node metastasis, followed by multistage and skip lymph node metastases. The length of esophageal lesion, T stage, degree of tumor differentiation, vascular cancer embolus and nerve invasion are independent factors for lymph node metastasis. The operation and dissection range should be selected according to the location of tumor and the characteristics of the lesion.
Objective To evaluate the strategy of chemoradiotherapy following endoscopic R0 resection for esophageal cancer in M3-T1b stage. Methods There were 45 esophageal cancer patients with M3-T1b stage with endoscopic R0 resection followed by additional chemoradiotherapy from ECETC (Esophageal Cancer Endoscopic Therapy Consortium) as a trial group with 34 males and 11 females at age of 61.37±7.14 years. There were 90 patients with esophagectomy from Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center as a control group with 63 males and 27 females at age of 61.04±8.17 years. Propensity score match (1:2) was used to balance the factors: gender, age, position, depth of invasion and lymphovascular invasion (LVI), which may influence the outcomes. Overall survival (OS) rate, relapse free survival (RFS) rate, and local recurrence rate were compared between the two groups. Result There was no statistical difference (HR=2.66 with 95%CI 0.87 to 8.11, P=0.179) in terms of OS rate between the two groups. One, two and three years overall survival rate of patients in the control group was 93%, 86%, and 84%, respectively. Nobody died in the trial group within 3 years after surgery. The RFS rate between the two groups didn’t significantly differ (HR=1.48, 95% CI 0.66 to 3.33, P=0.389). One, two and three years RFS rate of patients in the contorl group was 87%, 78%, and 76%, respectively, while 97%, 93%, and 73% in the trial group, respectively. The local recurrence rates between the two groups didn’t significantly differ either ( HR=0.53, 95%CI 0.13 to 2.18, P=0.314). One, two and three years local recurrence rate of patients in the control group was 5%, 6% and 6%, respectively, while 0%, 0% and 21% in the trial group, respectively. Conclusion Similar outcomes are found regarding OS, RFS and local recurrence rates between the two groups. The strategy of endoscopic R0 resection followed by additional chemoradiotherapy has prospect for the treatment of esophageal cancer in M3-T1b stage. And this kind of therapy may be provided for those with risk factors or can not tolerate surgery.
Surgery is the preferred treatment for early esophageal cancer. Minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) can significantly reduce the incidence of postoperative complications and mortality, but due to the complex esophageal anatomy, intraoperative esophageal exposure, separation, anastomosis and lymph node dissection are difficult. The da Vinci surgical system provides a 3D vision and a more flexible as well as stable robotic arm, which is very helpful in completing fine surgical procedures. Robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy(RAMIE) has been carried out in a number of countries, including China. Robot-assisted Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy (RAILE) is a transthoracic approach of robots developed in recent years. This paper summarizes the current researches on RAILE.
ObjectiveTo investigate the feasibility of thoracolapascopic esophagectomy (TLE) without routine nasogastric (NG) intubation for patients with esophageal cancer (EC). MethodsClinical data of 78 EC patients under-going TLE without perioperative NG intubation in Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January to September 2013 were analyzed (non-NG intubation group, including 48 male and 30 female patients with their age of 61.1± 8.5 years). Seventy-eight EC patients undergoing TLE with routine NG intubation for 7 days in 2012 were chosen as the control group (NG intubation group, including 50 male and 28 female patients with their age of 60.3±7.0 years). Operation time, postoperative morbidity, gastrointestinal functional recovery and patient discomfort were compared between the 2 groups. ResultsThere was no in-hospital death in either groups. There was no statistic difference in the incidences of pulmonary infection (16.7% vs. 19.2%, P=0.676), anastomotic leakage (1.3% vs. 2.6%, P=0.560) or NG tube replacement (3.8% vs. 2.6%, P=0.649) between non-NG intubation group and NG intubation group. Time for recovery of intestinal motility (2.5± 1.1 days vs. 4.3±1.2 days, P < 0.05) and time for air evacuation (3.6±1.7 days vs. 5.8±2.1 days, P < 0.05) of non-NG intubation group were significantly shorter than those of NG intubation group. Ninety-seven percent of the patients (76/78)in NG intubation group had uncomfortable feeling including dry mouth and sore throat, and only 6% of the patients (5/78) in non-NG intubation group had nausea. All the patients were followed up for 3 months after discharge. There was no intestinal obstruction, pneumonia or late anastomotic leakage during follow-up. ConclusionTLE without routine NG intubation is safe and feasible for EC patients, which can not only reduce patients' discomfort but also improve early recovery of gastrointestinal function.