Learning Curve for Minimally Invasive Oesophagectomy and Contrast With Open Procedure

Between July 2010 and August 2016, 214 patients underwent MIE (thoracoscopic-laparoscopic oesophagectomy) for oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma in the Thoracic Department, The Second Hospital of Shandong University. Eight of these 214 patients were converted to thoracotomy or laparotomy, one patient was unable to tolerate single-lung ventilation due to a history of left upper lobectomy, and the other seven patients were due to bleeding controlling. Among the 214 patients enrolled, there were 182 males and 32 females in the MIE group. A total of 170 patients underwent oesophagectomy by open thoracotomy from August 2014 to August 2016, and these patients were defined as the open group. The data from the patients in the open group were compared with those of the patients who underwent thoracoscopic-laparoscopic oesophagectomy during the same clinical period. All patients were preoperatively diagnosed with oesophageal cancer by endoscopy and biopsy, with routine thoracic and abdominal enhanced computed tomography (CT) scans and endoscopic ultrasonography to evaluate the clinical TNM stage. The operations were performed by a single surgical team. This study was approved by the ethics committee and Medical Administration Division of the Second Hospital of Shandong University. Written informed consent was obtained from each of the enrolled patients. All methods performed in the investigator's study were conducted in accordance with the relevant guidelines and regulations.