VS01.07: THORACOSCOPIC ESOPHAGECTOMY WITH A HYBRID OF THE PRONE AND LEFT LATERAL DECUBITUS POSITIONS FOR ESOPHAGEAL CARCINOMA

Abstract

Abstract Description Because esophagectomy with radical lymphadenectomy is highly invasive, thoracoscopic esophagectomy (TE) is attracting attention as a less invasive procedure. We first performed TE with the left decubitus position in 1996. In 2009 we developed a hybrid of the prone and left lateral decubitus positions for TE, and a total of 420 patients underwent TE with a hybrid position. We introduced TE with a hybrid position for the following three reasons: (1) Mobilization and lymphadenectomy around the middle and lower esophagus are easier in the prone position. Thanks to artificial pneumothorax and the gravity, the middle and lower mediastinum are opened, and which give us good surgical field. (2) Lymphadenectomy along the left recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) is more reliable and precise when performed in the left lateral decubitus position. We can dissect lymph node around the RLN higher position in the upper mediastinum. (3) Unexpected events requiring conversion to thoracotomy (e.g. massive bleeding, injury of other organs, dense intrathoracic adhesion, resection of adjacent organs) are easier to deal with in the left lateral decubitus position. The patient is fixed on the operating table with the semi-prone position and we can easily change patient positions from the left lateral decubitus position to the prone position and vice versa using rotation system of the operation table. The upper mediastinal procedure including lymphadenectomy along the right and left RLN is performed with the patient in the left lateral decubitus position, while the middle and lower mediastinal procedures are performed with the patient in the prone position with artificial pneumothorax (7mmHg). The abdominal procedures have beenwere performed by hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery (HALS) and gastric tube reconstruction in thethrough a posterior mediastinal route was performed as s a standard surgical procedure in our institution. The magnifying effect of thoracoscope enables us to perform more precise surgery and preserve nerve and vessels, and a hybrid position is thought to be feasible and effective methods. Disclosure All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.