Prevalence of recurrent nerve injury among esophageal cancer patients undergoing esophagectomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

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Background Esophageal cancer remains a major cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, and esophagectomy is a primary curative treatment for localized disease. However, recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury is a common and impactful complication that can impair vocal cord function, increase aspiration risk, and hinder postoperative recovery. To quantify its prevalence and explore contributing factors, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis including 24 studies and 6015 patients. The overall pooled prevalence of RLN injury was 18.36 % (95 % CI, 11.50 %–28.00 %), with substantial heterogeneity (I 2 = 95.8 %). Subgroup analysis revealed a lower pooled prevalence in robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (RAMIE) at 13.39 % (95 % CI, 9.28 %–18.95 %) compared to 21.89 % (95 % CI, 12.92 %–34.62 %) in minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE). Among surgical techniques, the McKeown approach had the highest RLN injury prevalence (26.32 %; 95 % CI, 15.59 %–40.85 %), whereas the Ivor Lewis approach demonstrated a notably lower rate (5.77 %; 95 % CI, 1.00 %–100.00 %). RLN injury was more frequent in studies from low-volume or early-learning curve centers, while high-volume single-center RAMIE cohorts showed both lower prevalence and reduced heterogeneity. Sensitivity analyses supported the robustness of these findings, and publication bias assessment indicated only minor asymmetry (LFK index −1.81). These results highlight the clinical importance of RLN injury and support the role of robotic-assisted techniques, surgical experience, and intraoperative neuromonitoring in mitigating risk. Standardized definitions and procedural training are essential to improving outcomes and reducing the burden of this complication.