PS01.220: COMPARISON OF SHORT-TERM OUTCOMES BETWEEN RAMIE AND VAMIE IN TREATMENT MIDDLE THORACIC ESOPHAGEAL CANCER

Abstract

Abstract Background Whether robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (RAMIE) has any advantages over video-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (VAMIE) remains controversial. In this study, we tried to compare the short-term outcomes of RAMIE with that of VAMIE in treating middle thoracic esophageal cancer from a single medical center. Methods Consecutive patients undergoing RAMIE or VAMIE for middle thoracic esophageal cancer from April 2016 to April 2017 were prospectively included for analysis. Baseline data and pathological findings as well as short-term outcomes of these two group (RAMIE group and VAMIE group) patients were collected and compared. A total of 84 patients (RAMIE group: 42 patients, VAMIE group: 42 patients) were included for analysis. Results The baseline characteristics between the two groups were comparable. RAMIE yielded significantly larger numbers of total dissected lymph nodes (21.9 and 17.8, respectively; P = 0.042) and right recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) lymph nodes (2.1 and 1.2, respectively; P = 0.033) as well as abdominal lymph nodes (10.8 and 7.7, respectively; P = 0.041) than VAMIE. Even though RAMIE may consume more overall operation time, it could significant decrease total blood loss compared to VAMIE (97 and 161 ml, respectively; P = 0.015). Postoperatively, no difference of the risk of major complications or hospital stay was observed between the two groups. Conclusion RAMIE had significant advantage of lymphadenectomy especially for dissecting RLN lymph nodes over VAMIE with comparable rate of postoperative complications. Further randomized controlled trials are badly needed to confirm and update our conclusions. Disclosure All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.