OBJECTIVETo evaluate the learning process of video-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE).

METHODSOne hundred consecutive patients with thoracic esophageal carcinoma were treated by a same team of surgeons, and were divided into 3 groups in chronological order. The former two groups both consisted of 25 patients with thoracoscopy plus laparotomy. The remaining 50 patients were enrolled in the third group with thoracoscopy plus laparoscopy. Clinicopathological data including operative time, blood loss, protection of normal structures, complications, length of ICU stay, postoperative stay, and lymph nodes harvest, were collected and compared between groups.

RESULTSProcedures were accomplished successfully in 96 patients. Only 4 cases were converted to open thoracotomy and none to laparotomy. The median operative time was 310 min and blood loss was 200 ml. The median number of lymph node harvest was 22. The overall complication rate was 50%. Comparison of first two groups revealed that significant differences existed in the preservation rate of arch of azygos vein (P=0.010), bronchial vessels (P=0.038), and exposure rate of thoracic part of left recurrent laryngeal nerve( P=0.048). Comparison of the former and latter 50 patients revealed that significant differences existed in thoracic operative time (P<0.001), blood loss (P=0.025), preservation rate of arch of azygos vein (P=0.001) and bronchial vessels (P<0.001), the number of lymph node harvest in thoracoscopy (P=0.022) and in left recurrent laryngeal nerve chain (P<0.001), and exposure rate of initiate part of left recurrent laryngeal nerve (P=0.002).

CONCLUSIONThe learning curve of MIE is long and beginners should proceed step by step.