Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 9, 2026
An Ivor Lewis Esophagectomy Designed to Minimize Anastomotic Complications and Optimize Conduit Function
Published on: April 17, 2020
Early experience with minimally invasive esophagectomy in head and neck surgical patients
Luc G T Morris1, Theresa N Tran, Mark D DeLacure
1Head and Neck Service, New York University Cancer Institute, New York, NY 10016, USA. luc.morris@med.nyu.edu
Background:
Minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) via thoracoscopy and laparoscopy have reduced the morbidity and mortality of total esophagectomy at experienced centers. MIE has not been evaluated in combination with major head and neck surgery, or in the otolaryngology literature.
Methods:
Case series of 11 consecutive patients undergoing either open or MIE with an ablative neck procedure.
Results:
Comparing 4 MIEs and 7 open operations, similar operative time, blood loss, and ICU and hospital length of stay were observed. There was one mortality in the open group. A 100% rate of major complications was observed in the MIE group.
Conclusion:
Our multidisciplinary team was unable to achieve improved outcomes in a series of head and neck surgical patients undergoing MIE. This result may represent an early stage of the learning curve for MIE, but may also be attributed to the escalated surgical requirements of head and neck patients.
