Esophageal suspension method in scavenging peripheral lymph nodes of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve in thoracic esophageal carcinoma through semi-prone-position thoracoscopy.

OBJECTIVE

Many Chinese doctors have performed microinvasive esophageal cancer resection in the semi-prone position. However, few reports have focused on high-quality methods of scavenging the peripheral lymph nodes (PLNs) of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN).

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Retrospective analysis was performed on 145 cases of microinvasive esophageal cancer resection in the semi-prone position. Among which, 75 cases underwent complete freeing of the thoracic esophagus and subsequent scavenging of the PLNs of the left RLN from April 2011 to April 2012 (Group A). In the other 70 cases, the incompletely freed upper thoracic esophagus was suspended, and the PLNs of the left RLN were scavenged from May 2012 to April 2013 (Group B).

RESULTS

The average number of scavenged PLNs of the left RLN in Groups A and B was 4.6±2.9 and 5.2±3.0 pieces, respectively (P=0.799). The total scavenged PLNs of the left RLN in Groups A and B were 344 and 357 pieces, respectively. Among which, the broken lymph nodes were 109 and 66 pieces, respectively (P<0.0001). The postoperative hoarseness rate in Groups A and B was respectively 12.0% and 2.8% (P=0.038).

CONCLUSIONS

Dissection of the left RLN can be easily performed after esophageal suspension, thus ensuring the quality of PLN scavenging.