Abstract
Conventional minimally invasive esophagectomy requires transthoracic surgery, which could increase the risk of many perioperative complications. Mediastinoscopy-assisted transhiatal esophagectomy has been proposed for years, but the traditional methods have shortcomings, such as unclear vision, especially during the dissection of upper mediastinal lymph nodes. We proposed a novel approach of upper mediastinal lymphadenectomy with mediastinoscopy through a left-neck incision, and investigated the effect of lymphadenectomy and other perioperative outcomes.
Methods
This approach for upper mediastinal lymphadenectomy includes three parts. (I) Lymphadenectomy along the left recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) could be accomplished during esophagectomy under mediastinoscopy. (II) At the level of the lower edge of the right subclavian artery (RSA), between the trachea and the esophagus, instruments are used to access the right RLN. Lymphadenectomy of up to 2 cm could be accomplished at the upper edge of the RSA. (III) Between the trachea and esophagus, the left and right main bronchi are exposed along the trailing edge of the trachea down to the carina, and lymphadenectomy can be performed here.
Results
This lymphadenectomy had been completed successfully on 117 patients, and 1 was converted to thoracotomy due to intraoperative tracheal membrane damage. The average operation time was 181.4 ± 43.2 minutes, bleeding volume was 106.4 ± 87.9 mL. The number of dissected LNs of upper mediastinal, the left RLN, the right RLN and the subcarinal was 11.2 ± 6.3, 5.1 ± 2.8, 3.2 ± 1.3 and 3.8 ± 2.1 respectively. 10 cases of (8.5%) anastomotic fistula were resolved with proper drainage and nutritional support. There were 25 cases (21.2%) of anastomotic strictures, 10 cases (8.5%) of pleural effusion, 20 cases (16.9%) of hoarseness. The incidence of hoarseness was 2.5% in three months postoperation.
Conclusion
These results showed that the lymphadenectomy through the left neck approach was not inferior than other surgical approaches in the amount of upper mediastinal LNs resection and perioperative outcome. Further research is needed to discover its impact on the long-term prognosis of ESCC patients.
P1.01-125 Uniportal Versus Multiportal Thoracoscopic Lobectomy with Systematic Mediastinal Lymphadenectomy for N2(+) Stage III NSCLC
