Initial experience with modified en bloc robot‐assisted minimally invasive oesophagectomy for thoracic oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma

• Published in: The international journal of medical robotics + computer assisted surgery 2023-06, Vol.19 (3), p.e2506-n/a
• Main Authors: Sun, Hai‐Bo, Liu, Xian‐Ben, Xing, Wen‐Qun, Chen, Pei‐Nan, Liu, Shi‐Lei, Li, Peng, Ma, Ya‐Xing, Feng, Shao‐Kang, Jiang, Duo, Yan, Sen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cancer; Dissection; en bloc oesophagectomy; Esophageal cancer; Esophageal Neoplasms - pathology; Esophageal Neoplasms - surgery; Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma - pathology; Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma - surgery; Esophagectomy; Feasibility; Humans; lymph node dissection; Lymph Node Excision; Lymph Nodes - surgery; Lymphatic system; oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma; Retrospective Studies; Robotics; Robots; Squamous cell carcinoma
• ISSN: 1478-5951; 1478-596X
• DOI: 10.1002/rcs.2506

Background The feasibility and safety of en bloc robot‐assisted minimally invasive oesophagectomy (RAMIE) need to be verified. Methods Forty‐seven patients who received conventional RAMIE and 31 who received modified en bloc RAMIE at Henan Cancer Hospital were included in the study cohort. We compared the perioperative outcomes of conventional RAMIE and modified en bloc RAMIE. Results Compared with the conventional RAMIE group, the en bloc RAMIE group yielded a higher total number of lymph nodes (p = 0.001), especially thoracic lymph nodes (p = 0.025) and left recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) lymph nodes (p = 0.005). No notable differences were found in the rate of total complications (p = 0.663) or RLN injury (p = 0.891) between the two groups. The preoperative and postoperative serological indicators were comparable between the two groups. Conclusions Modified en bloc RAMIE was safe and feasible for patients with oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma and improved lymph node dissection, especially thoracic and left RLN lymph node dissection.