Zhang X, et al. - This retrospective analysis focused on the outcomes of minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) versus open surgery in patients operated for locally advanced pathologic T3 (pT3) esophageal carcinoma. Findings demonstrated that without compromising recurrence or survival, MIE provided perioperative outcomes comparable to those of open surgery.

Methods

• Researchers performed a retrospective analysis including 229 patients with stage pT3 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) who underwent esophagectomy from January 2013 to June 2015.
• Operative outcomes, postoperative complications, recurrence, and mid-term survival served as study outcomes.

Results

• Data revealed that 66 patients underwent MIE and 163 patients underwent open surgery.
• Both groups did not significantly differ in blood loss or resection completeness (R0).
• In MIE versus open surgery group, the operative duration was longer (266.5±52.5 vs. 218.1±47.4, P<0.01), and the number of lymph nodes dissected was higher (15.2±5.3 vs. 12.9±7.3, P=0.01).
• Also, the two groups did not significantly differ in terms of length of stay or 30-day mortality rate, but the intensive care unit stay was shorter in the MIE group (3 vs. 4, P=0.01).
• Researchers found no difference in complications or recurrence between the two groups.
• Findings demonstrated that the 2-year overall survival (OS) rate was 72.8% for MIE and 69.4% for open surgery, and the 2-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate was 69.4% for MIE and 57.2% for open surgery.