485 MINIMALLY INVASIVE EN-BLOC OESOPHAGECTOMY: ANALYSIS OF THE OUTCOMES ALONG A LEARNING CURVE

Abstract   Minimally invasive oesophagectomy is technically demanding but benefits perioperative morbidity and intra-hospital mortality. We previously described open total adventitial resection of the cardia (TARC) as an optimal anatomical resection technique for lower oesophageal and gastro-esophageal junction cancers. We wanted to investigate whether the peri-operative benefits of minimally invasive techniques, along with en-bloc resection of the primary tumour, translate into long term survival benefit in a specialized high volume center along a surgeon learning curve. Methods Data from 198 consecutive patients undergoing oesophagectomy by a single surgeon was collected prospectively. Patient stratification was made to chronologically reflect four main stages of our learning curve: open surgery, Laparoscopic Ivor Lewis, laparoscopy/thoracoscopy with mini-thoracotomy and laparoscopic TARC. Primary outcomes included five-year survival rate, operating time, hospital stay, specimen lymphnodes. Peri-operative complications and mortality are also described. 45 patients had open surgery; laparoscopy (n = 50) was initiated after two years, and thoracoscopy (n = 56) introduced after case 94. MIO was performed for the last 47 patients. Patients in all groups had similar demographics, histological diagnosis, preoperative and pathological staging. Results 158 patients were male (79.8%); age was 63 +/− 10 years. Overall five-year survival rate was 45%; perioperative mortality rate was 1.5% (n = 3); 13 patients were returned to theatre. Hospital stay was 22+/−23 days. Specimen lymph nodes were 21+/− 8. Resection margins were negative (ACP) in 193 cases (97.4%). Five-year survival rates during the 4 phases were 38.6%, 44.9%, 42.8% and 59% respectively, showing a benefit trend towards the end of the learning curve (p = 0.03). Specimen lymph nodes were: open = 20.5+/−9.5; Lap = 19.5+/− 7; mini-tho = 19.9+/− 7; MIO = 25+/− 10 (p = 0.027). Resection margins were > 1 mm in 68.1%(open), 67.3%(lap), 64.2%(mini-tho) and 79.5(MIO). Conclusion Laparoscopic en-bloc resection of cancers of the OGJ requires a long learning curve. Proficiency gains along this learning curve affects oncological quality of oesophageal resectional surgery and benefits patients survival after minimally invasive oesophagectomy.