Abstract

RAMIREZ, Juan Camilo; CORDOBA, Adriana  and  MEDINA, Gabriel Santiago. Minimally invasive esophagectomy: experience at Hospital San José, Bogotá, Colombia. rev. colomb. cir. [online]. 2013, vol.28, n.2, pp.117-126. ISSN 2011-7582.

The purpose of this paper is to review our initial experience with minimally invasive esophagectomy and to determine its impact on several variables. We went over the charts and clinical records of 20 patients who underwent MIE between January 2009 through December 2010. Twenty patients underwent MIE between January 2009 through december 2010. Fourteen were men and 6 were women. Age averaged 57 years (range 29 to 82). The indication for MIE was esophageal cancer in 13 patients and benign disease in 7. .Thirteen underwent laparoscopic transhiatal esophagectomy and gastric pull-up to the neck: Seven patients had combined thoracoscopic and laparoscopic approach. Operating room time averaged 234 min. (range 180 to 360 min). Intraoperative bleeding averaged 200 ml (range 50 to 500 ml). Average stay in ICU was 4.8 days. There were 3 postoperative deaths. There were 8 complications. Total hospital stay averaged 10.5 days (range 7 to 25 days). MIE is technically feasible and safe. The indication for the procedure and selection of the surgical approach has to be done on an individual basis, taking in consideration criteria such as primary disease (benign vs cancer), comorbidities, available resources and expertise of the surgical team. Main benefits are reduction in operative bleeding, postoperative pain, need for ICU, days in hospital and earlier return to work and normal lifestyle. MIE is a complex operation that must be performed in high complexity centers with high volume of esophageal surgery performed by expert surgeons. The impact of MIE on esophageal cancer needs to be defined by well designed prospective randomized trials.

Keywords : esophageal neoplasms; esophageal motility disorders; esophagectomy; video-assisted surgery; laparoscopy.

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