Esophagectomy

Details of Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy

For patients, minimally invasive surgery means less trauma to the body, less blood loss, smaller surgical scars and less need for pain medication. Patients leave the hospital and return to normal activities sooner after minimally invasive surgery than after conventional open surgery.

Findings from the largest study to date evaluated minimally invasive esophagectomies and concluded that the procedure results in lower mortality (death) rates and shorter hospital stays compared with most open procedures. Minimally invasive esophagectomy is safe and feasible in centers with experience in advanced minimally invasive surgical procedures.

Surgery for esophageal disorders is complex and carries risks that include infection, bleeding and leakage from the area where the remaining esophagus is reattached. Hospitals where surgeons perform a large number of esophagectomies have significantly lower mortality rates than hospitals where few esophagectomies are performed. In a center with surgeons experienced in the care and treatment of patients with Barrett's esophagus or esopheageal cancer, the mortality rate is around 3 to 5 percent. The surgical mortality in low-volume centers may be in the range of 16 to 20 percent.

Minimally invasive esophagectomy is still considered an innovative method, and is not performed as frequently as the traditional esophagectomy. This approach is not the best option for all patients. The surgeon will discuss all the options with each patient.