Robot-Assisted Cervical Esophagectomy (Race) for Esophageal Cancer: The First Two Cases of an Italian High-Volume Center

Abstract Background Closed thorax esophagectomy is an alternative to conventional two or three-field esophagectomy in patients with esophageal cancer and pulmonary comorbidities, previous thoracic surgery or cervical tumor spread without thoracic involvement. We describe our first two cases of robotic trans-hiatal and trans-cervical esophagectomy. Methods We performed a robotic assisted abdominal D2 lymphadenectomy and trans-hiatal esophageal dissection until the tracheal carina with en bloc mediastinal lymphadenectomy. Then we did left cervicotomy and, using a gelPort, we continued robotic esophageal dissection in superior mediastinum until the carina, preserving left recurrent nerve. Subsequently, in abdomen, we completed esophageal dissection and gastric tubulization. After section of the esophagus we pulled up the gastric conduit and in one case we performed a esophago-gastric 23 mm termino-lateral mechanical circular anastomosis and in the other hypopharyngeal-gastric handsewn double layer anastomosis. Results One patient had distal esophageal adenocarcinoma and we chose RACE because of previous pleuritis. Pathology reported ypT2N1 (35 lymph nodes retrieved) with R0 resection. Post operative complications were cervical anastomotic leak, chylous ascites and atrial fibrillation treated conservatively; total length of stay (LOS) was 25 days. The second patient had cervical squamous cell carcinoma spreading to the neck without thoracic involvement. In addition to RACE, we performed tracheostomy after cervical lymphadenectomy. Pathology reported ypT0N0 (17 lymph nodes) with R0 resection. A post-operative Bernard Horner syndrome was noted; total LOS was 16 days. Conclusion Our first experience in performing RACE with the Da Vinci Xi robotic system shows that this can be a feasible procedure with adequate surgical and oncological outcomes. Further comparison studies are needed.