Short-term outcomes after minimally invasive oesophagectomy

Abstract

Introduction: Minimally invasive oesophagectomy (MIO) has gained increasing popularity. This study reports the results of the first patients operated using this technique at our department.

Methods: All procedures were prospectively registered in a database. Patients were followed until death, two years after surgery or 1 January 2019.

Results: A total of 150 procedures were performed (from 23 November 2015 to 27 February 2018). The median proced-ure time decreased from 350 minutes for the initial 75 pa-tients to 320 minutes for the final 75 patients (p < 0.05). Blood loss decreased from 200 ml to 100 ml (p < 0.05), respectively. The conversion rate for the abdominal procedure was 7% for the initial 75 patients and 8% for the final 75 patients (not significant (NS)). For the thoracic procedure, the corresponding figures were 11% and 7% (NS), respectively. Anastomotic leakage was seen in 17% (initial patients) and 11% (final patients) (NS); however, less than 20% of the leakages needed surgical treatment. The median length of post-operative stay was nine days for both groups. For all 150 patients, pulmonary complications were observed in 18% and cardiac complications in 11%. The 30-day mortality rate was 2% and the one-year survival rate was 86% (124 registered patients).

Conclusions: MIO was introduced at our department with acceptable morbidity and mortality rates and the short-term oncological result was not compromised.

Funding: none.

Trial registration: The study was approved as a quality project by the Region of Southern Denmark (18/37355).