In this review, development and application of the minimally invasive esophagectomy(MIE) for esophageal cancer are discussed including the types of MIE procedures, short- and long- term outcome after MIE; as well the future of MIE is forecasted. Main procedures of MIE performed currently include esophagectomy via thoracoscopy and laparoscopy and cervical esophagogastrosty, Ivor-Lewis MIE via thoracoscopy and laparoscopy, and hiatal MIE. Ivor-Lewis MIE gradually becomes a standard surgical option for the cancer of distal esophagus or esophagogastric junction while the solution of intrathoracic anastomosis via thoracoscopy has achieved. Several methods of intrathoracic anastomosis are reported such as hand-sewn, circular stapler, side-to-side and triangular anastomosis. MIE could decrease operative blood loss, shorten hospital stay and ICU stay, reduce postoperative especially pulmonary complications, and harvest more lymph nodes compared to open esophagectomy. The long-term survival has been proved similar with that after open esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. MIE has developed rapidly in recent years with some aspects in future prospectively: individual MIE treatment and quality of life, fast track after surgery, and robot-assisted MIE, as well the endoscopic submucosal dissection for esophageal cancer is mentioned.

Objective    To investigate the safety and efficiency of robotic lung segmentectomy. Methods    The clinical data of 110 patients receiving robotic or thoracoscopic segmentectomy in our hospital between June 2015 and June 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into a robotic group [n=50, 13 males and 37 females aged 53.0 (46.0, 60.0) years] and a thoracoscopic group [n=60, 21 males and 39 females aged 61.0 (53.0, 67.0) years]. A propensity score-matched analysis was adopted to compare the perioperative data between the two groups. Results    After the propensity score-matched analysis, 34 patients were included in each group. In comparison with the thoracoscopic group, patients in the robotic group had less blood loss [40.0 (20.0, 50.0) mL vs. 60.0 (40.0, 80.0) mL, P<0.001], more stations of lymph node dissection [7.0 (6.0, 8.0) vs. 4.0 (3.0, 6.0), P<0.001], larger number of lymph node dissection [15.0 (11.0, 21.0) vs. 10.0 (6.0, 14.0), P=0.002], and a higher total cost of hospitalization [97.0 (92.0, 103.0) thousand yuan vs. 54.0 (42.0, 59.0) thousand yuan, P<0.001]. Conclusion    In contrast with the thoracoscopic segmentectomy, robotic segmentectomy has a similar operative safety, but less blood loss and a thorough lymphadenectomy.

The robotic bronchoscopy system is a new technology for lung lesion location, biopsy and interventional therapy. Its safety and effectiveness have been clinically proven. Based on many advanced technologies carried by the robotic bronchoscopy system, it is more intelligent, convenient and stable when clinicians perform bronchoscopy operations. It has higher accuracy and diagnostic rates, and less complications than bronchoscopy with the assistance of magnetic navigation and ordinary bronchoscopy. This article gave a review of the progress of robotic bronchoscopy systems, and a prospect of the combination with artificial intelligence.