Prevention of intra-thoracic recurrent laryngeal nerve injury with robot-assisted esophagectomy

Perioperative Outcomes and Learning Curve of Robot-Assisted McKeown Esophagectomy

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to evaluate the perioperative outcomes of patients undergoing robot-assisted McKeown esophagectomy (RAME) and the learning curves of surgeons performing RAME at a single center.

METHODS

Perioperative outcomes of RAME and video-assisted McKeown esophagectomy (VAME) were compared after eliminating confounding factors by propensity score matching (PSM). The cumulative sum (CUSUM) method was used to evaluate the learning curves of RAME for a single surgical team.

RESULTS

In general, a total of 198 patients with esophageal cancer (RAME: 45 patients, VAME: 153 patients) were included in this study, and 43 pairs of patients receiving RAME or VAME were matched using 1:1 PSM analysis. Those in the RAME group had more lymph nodes dissected in the total lymph nodes (median 29.0 vs. 26.0, P = 0.011) and the upper mediastinum (median 8.0 vs. 6.0, P < 0.001), especially the left recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) lymph node (median 4.0 vs. 2.0, P = 0.001). According to the trend of the CUSUM plot, the learning curve was divided into two stages at the 20th RAME procedure. After mastering the learning curve, RAME harvested a significantly higher number of upper mediastinal lymph nodes (median 9.0 vs. 6.0, P = 0.001), left RLN lymph nodes (median 5.0 vs. 3.5, P = 0.003), and right RLN lymph nodes (median 4.0 vs. 2.0, P = 0.002). Meanwhile, the incidence of postoperative pneumonia in the proficiency phase was significantly lower than that in the learning phase (4.0% vs. 25.0%, P = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

RAME improved left RLN lymph node dissection. Surgeons with extensive VAME experience need at least 20 cases to achieve early proficiency in RAME.

Features and applications of energy devices for prone robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy: a narrative review

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Robot-assisted surgery is particularly useful in esophagectomy for esophageal cancer because robotic systems have high-resolution three-dimensional imaging, tremor filtering, and articulated instruments. This review article focuses on the applications and limitations of surgical devices in robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (RAMIE).

METHODS

A narrative search of Medline was performed for articles published using the keywords "robot-assisted esophagectomy", "technique", "postoperative complication", and "short-term outcomes".

KEY CONTENTS AND FINDINGS

Monopolar scissors: these devices with a sharp tip have an articulating function that allows for fast, sharp dissection without an electrical source. However, scissor-type devices cannot compress the organ, and their hemostatic ability is rather weak. Maryland bipolar forceps: the device has a very thin tip that allows for accurate dissection as well as stronger hemostatic ability by closing the forceps to compress tissues and applying electric current. The disadvantage is longer operation time because the forceps need to be constantly closed and reopened. Long Maryland bipolar grasper: the tip of the long Maryland bipolar grasper is slightly blunt and has the advantage of versatility because it can grip the tissue more delicately. Ultrasonic scalpel: the device can transect tissues speedily without bleeding, shortening operation time, but lacks articulating function. Although thermal spread to the surroundings is relatively narrow, activation time increases with the amount of tissue to be grasped; this raises the temperature above that of the vessel sealer. Vessel sealer: the device is one of the most powerful hemostatic energy devices, based on bipolar electrodes. The articulating jaws on both sides are more suited for sharp transection rather than meticulous dissection because of its powerful hemostatic force and blunt tip. It is also important to note that the vessel sealer produces widespread high-temperature steam. SynchroSeal: the device offers fast activation time, and due to the tip of the device being finely divided, which requires relatively precise manipulation.

CONCLUSIONS

Robot-assisted surgery reduces the limitations of conventional endoscopic surgery by offering stable high-resolution three-dimensional imaging, tremor filtering, and articulated instruments. It is important to understand and exploit the advantages of energy devices suitable for RAMIE.

Robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy versus video-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (RAMIE) has been demonstrated to offer realistic three-dimensional visual clarity, flexible movement and so on. The high cost is the main reason hampering universal application. The aim of this study was to compare the short-term outcomes of RAMIE versus video-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (VAMIE).

Methods

The PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science databases were systematically searched up to June 1, 2021, for studies comparing RAMIE and VAMIE.

Results

Nineteen studies were enrolled, which consisted of a total of 4,714 patients, including 2,306 patients in the RAMIE group and 2,408 patients in the VAMIE group. In RAMIE patients, higher numbers of total lymph nodes (MD =0.171, 95% CI: 0.086–0.255, P<0.001) and lymph nodes along the left recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) (MD =0.219, 95% CI: 0.097–0.340, P<0.001) were removed. In RAMIE patients in the McKown group, higher numbers of total lymph nodes (MD =0.173, 95% CI: 0.080–0.265, P<0.001) and lymph nodes along the left RLN (MD =0.220, 95% CI: 0.090–0.350, P=0.001) were removed, while in those in the ESCC group, higher numbers of total lymph nodes (MD =0.249, 95% CI: 0.091–0.407, P=0.002) and lymph nodes along the left RLN (MD =0.239, 95% CI: 0.102–0.377, P=0.001) were removed.

Discussion

This study indicated that the main advantage of RAMIE was a greater number of harvested lymph nodes, which may be beneficial to diagnosis and local control. RCTs with larger sample sizes and studies reporting long-term outcomes are needed to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of RAMIE and VAMIE.

Robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy for esophageal cancer: Meticulous surgery minimizing postoperative complications

Minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) has been reported to reduce postoperative complications especially pulmonary complications and have equivalent long-term survival outcomes as compared to open esophagectomy. Robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (RAMIE) using da Vinci surgical system (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, USA) is rapidly gaining attention because it helps surgeons to perform meticulous surgical procedures. McKeown RAMIE has been preferably performed in East Asia where squamous cell carcinoma which lies in more proximal esophagus than adenocarcinoma is a predominant histological type of esophageal cancer. On the other hand, Ivor Lewis RAMIE has been preferably performed in the Western countries where adenocarcinoma including Barrett esophageal cancer is the most frequent histology. Average rates of postoperative complications have been reported to be lower in Ivor Lewis RAMIE than those in McKeown RAMIE. Ivor Lewis RAMIE may get more attention for thoracic esophageal cancer. The studies comparing RAMIE and MIE where recurrent nerve lymphadenectomy was thoroughly performed reported that the rate of recurrent nerve injury is lower in RAMIE than in MIE. Recurrent nerve injury leads to serious complications such as aspiration pneumonia. It seems highly probable that RAMIE is beneficial in performing recurrent nerve lymphadenectomy. Surgery for esophageal cancer will probably be more centralized in hospitals with surgical robots, which enable accurate lymph node dissection with less complications, leading to improved outcomes for patients with esophageal cancer. RAMIE might occupy an important position in surgery for esophageal cancer.