Background, Barrett's esophagus with high-grade dysplasia (BE/HGD) is assoc
iated with invasive carcinoma in 30% to 70% of cases. Esophagectomy is the
treatment of choice for patients with BE/HGD hit esophagectomy can be assoc
iated with high morbidity and mortality. The aim of our study was to report
our preliminary experience in applying minimally invasive surgical techniq
ues to esophagectomy for BE/HGD.
Methods. From August 1996 to February 1999, 12 consecutive patients underwe
nt minimally invasive esophagectomy for biopsy-proven BE/HGD. Our consort c
onsisted of 7 men and 5 women; average age was 64 years (range, 40-78 years
). All patients underwent a complete Ia;laparoscopic ol combined laparoscop
ic and thoracoscopic resection of the esophagus with cervical anastomosis.
Results, Mean operative time was 7.8 +/- 2.1 hours, mean intensive care uni
t stay was 2.6 +/- 2.2 days, and mean length of hospital stay was 8.3 +/- 4
.7 days. Five patients (42%) had carcinoma in situ or carcinoma identified
on pathologic specimen. Analyses of all resected lymph nodes in the 12 pati
ents were negative for metastatic disease. There were 6 major complications
in 5 patients: I patient had a small bowel perforation requiring operative
repair 2 patients needed prolonged ventilatory support for respiratory ins
ufficiency, and 3 patients had delayed gastric emptying requiring revision
of the pyloromyotomy. The single minor complication in this series was a je
junostomy tube-site infection. There were no conversions to laparotomy or t
horacotomy. All patients were alive and free of metastatic disease at a mea
n follow-up of 12.6 months.
Conclusions, Minimally invasive esophagectomy is a feasible and safe altern
ative to conventional open esophagectomy for patients with BE/HGD.