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Hasson et al. Mini-invasive Surg 2020;4:46 Mini-invasive Surgery
DOI: 10.20517/2574-1225.2020.10

Review Open Access

Robotic esophagectomy: the evolution of open
esophagectomy to current techniques and a review
of the literature

Rian M. Hasson 1,2,3 , Kayla A. Fay , Joseph D. Phillips , Timothy M. Millington , David J. Finley 1,3
1,3
2
1,3
1 Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Department of Surgery, Section of Thoracic Surgery, Lebanon, NH 03766, USA.
2 The Dartmouth Institute of Health Policy and Clinical Practice, Lebanon, NH 03766, USA.
3 Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, NH 03755, USA.
Correspondence to: Dr. Rian M. Hasson, Department of Surgery, Section of Thoracic Surgery, The Dartmouth Institute of
Health Policy and Clinical Practice, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, 1 Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, NH 03766, USA.
E-mail: rian.m.hasson@hitchcock.org

How to cite this article: Hasson RM, Fay KA, Phillips JD, Millington TM, Finley DJ. Robotic esophagectomy: the evolution of
open esophagectomy to current techniques and a review of the literature. Mini-invasive Surg 2020;4:46.
http://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2574-1225.2020.10

Received: 14 Jan 2020 First Decision: 19 Feb 2020 Revised: 30 Mar 2020 Accepted: 30 Apr 2020 Published: 26 Jul 2020
Science Editor: Noriyoshi Sawabata Copy Editor: Jing-Wen Zhang Production Editor: Tian Zhang

Abstract
Esophageal cancer persists as one of the most common causes of cancer-related death and 5-year survival
remains poor at 20%. Surgical resection is the gold standard for treatment and cure, and the development of
minimally invasive surgery has increased the popularity of robotic-assisted minimally-invasive esophagectomy.
The benefits described include less morbidity and greater patient satisfaction compared to open techniques.
Nevertheless, institution capabilities and surgeon experience are strong determinants of whether a robotic
program will be adopted for oncologic esophageal care. Thus, we review the available literature regarding the
history of esophagectomy, evolution to minimally invasive approaches, the introduction of robotic-assisted
esophagectomy including its respective outcomes in comparison to open and minimally invasive approaches, and
future directions.

Keywords: Minimally invasive, esophageal cancer, esophagectomy, lymph node dissection, robotic-assisted
esophagectomy, Ivor Lewis, McKeown, transhiatal

INTRODUCTION
Globally, esophageal cancer is the eighth most common cancer in the world and the sixth most common
[1]
cause of cancer death . Despite many advances in treatment, 5-year survival remains poor at 15%-25%;

© The Author(s) 2020. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
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