Analysis On Status Of Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy

Objective: This thesis explores basic surgical techniques of minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE), some unconventional surgical techniques, e.g. hand-assisted esophagectomy, prone position, robotic surgery and those are compared with conventional open surgery.Methods: All of the recent literatures related to minimally invasive esophagectomy were collected. A conclusion was drawn after carefully arranging, summing up and analyzing.Results: There is no obvious advantage of minimally invasive esophagectomy on complication, mortality and cost. The long-term survival rate of minimally invasive esophagectomy has no difference or is superior to that of open surgery. However, there is no doubt that minimally invasive esophagectomy has the advantage of extended lymphadenectomy and the post-operative quality of life of the patients. Conclusion: As it is still in the initial stage at present, minimally invasive esophagectomy has showed the obvious superiority and its techniques will continue to be improved. If the safety and better result in lymphadenectomy were able to be assured on the basis of micro-trauma, minimally invasive esophagectomy would be entered the field of minimally invasive surgery in the near future.