0000000000088502

AUTHOR

Jan-hendrik Egberts

Robot-assisted cervical esophagectomy: first clinical experiences and review of the literature

Summary Pulmonary complications, and especially pneumonia, remain one of the most common complications after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. These complications are reduced by minimally invasive techniques or by avoiding thoracic access through a transhiatal approach. However, a transhiatal approach does not allow for a full mediastinal lymphadenectomy. A transcervical mediastinal esophagectomy avoids thoracic access, which may contribute to a decrease in pulmonary complications after esophagectomy. In addition, this technique allows for a full mediastinal lymphadenectomy. A number of pioneering studies have been published on this topic. Here, the initial experience is presented as wel…

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O100 WORLDWIDE TECHNIQUES AND OUTCOMES OF ROBOT-ASSISTED MINIMALLY INVASIVE ESOPHAGECTOMY (RAMIE): RESULTS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL UGIRA REGISTRY

Abstract Aim The aim of this study was to gain insight in the techniques and outcomes of RAMIE worldwide. Background & Methods Although robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (RAMIE) is increasingly adopted. The current literature on RAMIE mainly consists of single-center case series with considerable variation in reported techniques and outcomes. To gain an overview of the worldwide practice in RAMIE, an online registry was established by the Upper GI International Robotic Association (UGIRA). The collected data involve patient- and treatment characteristics, as well as postoperative outcomes that include complications as defined by the Esophageal Complications Consensus Group…

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Worldwide Techniques and Outcomes in Robot-assisted Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy (RAMIE): Results From the Multicenter International Registry

OBJECTIVE: This international multicenter study by the Upper GI International Robotic Association aimed to gain insight in current techniques and outcomes of RAMIE worldwide.BACKGROUND: Current evidence for RAMIE originates from single-center studies, which may not be generalizable to the international multicenter experience.METHODS: Twenty centers from Europe, Asia, North-America, and South-America participated from 2016 to 2019. Main endpoints included the surgical techniques, clinical outcomes, and early oncological results of ramie.RESULTS: A total of 856 patients undergoing transthoracic RAMIE were included. Robotic surgery was applied for both the thoracic and abdominal phase (45%), o…

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Fit-for-Discharge Criteria after Esophagectomy: An International Expert Delphi Consensus

Summary There are no internationally recognized criteria available to determine preparedness for hospital discharge after esophagectomy. This study aims to achieve international consensus using Delphi methodology. The expert panel consisted of 40 esophageal surgeons spanning 16 countries and 4 continents. During a 3-round, web-based Delphi process, experts voted for discharge criteria using 5-point Likert scales. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Consensus was reached if agreement was ≥75% in round 3. Consensus was achieved for the following basic criteria: nutritional requirements are met by oral intake of at least liquids with optional supplementary nutrition via jejunal fe…

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Robotic-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (RAMIE) for esophageal cancer training curriculum—a worldwide Delphi consensus study

Summary Background Structured training protocols can safely improve skills prior initiating complex surgical procedures such as robotic-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (RAMIE). As no consensus on a training curriculum for RAMIE has been established so far it is our aim to define a protocol for RAMIE with the Delphi consensus methodology. Methods Fourteen worldwide RAMIE experts were defined and were enrolled in this Delphi consensus project. An expert panel was created and three Delphi rounds were performed starting December 2019. Items required for RAMIE included, but were not limited to, virtual reality simulation, wet-lab training, proctoring, and continued monitoring and educa…

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Surgical anatomy of the upper esophagus related to robot-assisted cervical esophagectomy

Abstract Robot-assisted cervical esophagectomy (RACE) enables radical surgery for tumors of the middle and upper esophagus, avoiding a transthoracic approach. However, the cervical access, narrow working space, and complex topographic anatomy make this procedure particularly demanding. Our study offers a stepwise description of appropriate dissection planes and anatomical landmarks to facilitate RACE. Macroscopic dissections were performed on formaldehyde-fixed body donors (three females, three males), according to the surgical steps during RACE. The topographic anatomy and surgically relevant structures related to the cervical access route to the esophagus were described and illustrated, a…

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Technical details of the hand-sewn and circular-stapled anastomosis in robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy.

SUMMARY The circular mechanical and hand-sewn intrathoracic anastomosis are most often used in robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (RAMIE). The aim of this study was to describe the technical details of both techniques that were pioneered in two high volume centers for RAMIE. A prospectively maintained database was used to identify patients with esophageal cancer who underwent RAMIE with intrathoracic anastomosis. The primary outcome was anastomotic leakage, which was analyzed using a moving average curve. For the hand-sewn anastomosis, video recordings were reviewed to evaluate number of sutures and distances between the anastomosis and the longitudinal staple line or gastric c…

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