OBJECTIVETo compare the perioperative complications and the stress response between thoracoscopic esophagectomy and open esophagectomy in patients with esophageal cancer.

METHODSClinicopathologic data of 154 patients with esophageal cancer undergoing thoracoscopic esophagectomy (thoracoscope group) and 113 undergoing open procedure(open group) in the Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital from October 2012 to September 2014 were analyzed retrospectively. The incidence of perioperative complications and the change of stress response index in patients without complications were compared between two groups.

RESULTSThe total complication rate in thoracoscope and open group was 33.8% and 38.1%(P = 0.470) respectively. Compared with open group, incidence of ligation of thoracic duct(2.6% vs. 14.2%), recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis (16.9% vs. 28.3%), chylothorax (0 vs. 4.4%), atelectasis (1.3% vs. 7.1%), pleural effusion (0.6% vs. 6.2%) and acute respiratory distress(0.6% vs. 6.2%) were obviously decreased in thoracoscope group(all P<0.05). No significant differences were observed in other complications (all P>0.05). Thirty-two cases and 24 cases without complication and with complete test data in thoracoscope and open group were selected for the detection of stress response index. There were no significant differences in white blood cell count, and the levels of cortisol, thyroxine (FT3 and FT4) and C-reactive protein between two groups at the same time points (before operation, 1, 3 and 6 days after operation) (all P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThoracoscopic esophagectomy has some obvious advantages associated with less pulmonary complications, lower morbidity of injury in thoracic duct and recurrent laryngeal nerve, while no significant difference of stress response is found in patients without complication between thoracoscope group and open group.