Ivor-Lewis oesophagectomy: A standardized operative technique in 11 steps

Standardization of robotic oesophagectomy can benefit both patients and surgeons by decreasing complications, shortening the learning curve and improving surgical training.

Thoraco-abdominal oesophagectomy with lymphadenectomy is the cornerstone of curative therapy for oesophageal carcinoma. To reduce post-operative morbidity, minimally invasive technology has become increasingly established. Conventional thoraco-laparoscopic procedures, however, are limited by their technical feasibility. These limitations can be overcome using robot-assisted technology.

Robotic Ivor-Lewis oesophageal resection has gradually been implemented in our clinic from 2013. We have performed over 250 robot-assisted minimally invasive oesophagectomies and more than 2000 robotic procedures overall. This experience allowed us to establish a standardized operative technique.

We identified 11 operative steps as key elements for oesophageal resection, which should help implementation of this technique and allow surgeons to approach this complex procedure with greater confidence.

Standardization is fundamental to the establishment of a new surgical technique and is a key element in the learning curve of Ivor-Lewis oesophageal resection. Standardization can lead to better reproducibility of results, and thus to improved quality.