Background: Inflatable mediastinoscope-assisted laparoscopic esophagectomy (IMLE) is an innovative minimally invasive technique for esophageal cancer, offering reduced postoperative pain, minimal intraoperative bleeding, and accelerated recovery compared to traditional open esophagectomy. It is particularly advantageous for patients with compromised pulmonary function or comorbidities precluding transthoracic approaches. Case Presentation: We present two cases of elderly male patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and dysphagia, both with a history of chronic bronchitis and moderate pulmonary impairment. Following multidisciplinary team (MDT) approval, both underwent IMLE under general anesthesia using an inflatable mediastinoscope with carbon dioxide insufflation for mediastinal dissection and lymph node clearance. One patient recovered uneventfully, while the other developed a postoperative pulmonary infection, which was successfully managed. Conclusion: IMLE provides significant benefits, including reduced morbidity, shorter recovery times, and effective oncological outcomes through comprehensive lymph node dissection. However, it demands specialized equipment and expertise, and potential complications necessitate meticulous patient selection. Further research is required to optimize this technique and broaden its clinical applicability.
Published in | American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine (Volume 13, Issue 3) |
DOI | 10.11648/j.ajcem.20251303.11 |
Page(s) | 35-39 |
Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Esophageal Cancer, Minimally Invasive Surgery, Inflatable Mediastinoscope, Esophagectomy, Lymph Node Dissection
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APA Style
Yu, S., Liu, F., Yao, Y., Quan, Y., Zhou, Z., et al. (2025). Minimally Invasive Inflatable Mediastinoscope-Assisted Laparoscopic Esophagectomy for Esophageal Cancer: Case Series and Review. American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, 13(3), 35-39. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajcem.20251303.11
ACS Style
Yu, S.; Liu, F.; Yao, Y.; Quan, Y.; Zhou, Z., et al. Minimally Invasive Inflatable Mediastinoscope-Assisted Laparoscopic Esophagectomy for Esophageal Cancer: Case Series and Review. Am. J. Clin. Exp. Med. 2025, 13(3), 35-39. doi: 10.11648/j.ajcem.20251303.11
@article{10.11648/j.ajcem.20251303.11, author = {Shouqiang Yu and Feng Liu and Yao Yao and Yonghui Quan and Zhiliang Zhou and Kunpeng Wu and Yayun Sheng and Shaojin Zhu}, title = {Minimally Invasive Inflatable Mediastinoscope-Assisted Laparoscopic Esophagectomy for Esophageal Cancer: Case Series and Review }, journal = {American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine}, volume = {13}, number = {3}, pages = {35-39}, doi = {10.11648/j.ajcem.20251303.11}, url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajcem.20251303.11}, eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajcem.20251303.11}, abstract = {Background: Inflatable mediastinoscope-assisted laparoscopic esophagectomy (IMLE) is an innovative minimally invasive technique for esophageal cancer, offering reduced postoperative pain, minimal intraoperative bleeding, and accelerated recovery compared to traditional open esophagectomy. It is particularly advantageous for patients with compromised pulmonary function or comorbidities precluding transthoracic approaches. Case Presentation: We present two cases of elderly male patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and dysphagia, both with a history of chronic bronchitis and moderate pulmonary impairment. Following multidisciplinary team (MDT) approval, both underwent IMLE under general anesthesia using an inflatable mediastinoscope with carbon dioxide insufflation for mediastinal dissection and lymph node clearance. One patient recovered uneventfully, while the other developed a postoperative pulmonary infection, which was successfully managed. Conclusion: IMLE provides significant benefits, including reduced morbidity, shorter recovery times, and effective oncological outcomes through comprehensive lymph node dissection. However, it demands specialized equipment and expertise, and potential complications necessitate meticulous patient selection. Further research is required to optimize this technique and broaden its clinical applicability. }, year = {2025} }
TY - JOUR T1 - Minimally Invasive Inflatable Mediastinoscope-Assisted Laparoscopic Esophagectomy for Esophageal Cancer: Case Series and Review AU - Shouqiang Yu AU - Feng Liu AU - Yao Yao AU - Yonghui Quan AU - Zhiliang Zhou AU - Kunpeng Wu AU - Yayun Sheng AU - Shaojin Zhu Y1 - 2025/05/14 PY - 2025 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajcem.20251303.11 DO - 10.11648/j.ajcem.20251303.11 T2 - American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine JF - American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine JO - American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine SP - 35 EP - 39 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2330-8133 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajcem.20251303.11 AB - Background: Inflatable mediastinoscope-assisted laparoscopic esophagectomy (IMLE) is an innovative minimally invasive technique for esophageal cancer, offering reduced postoperative pain, minimal intraoperative bleeding, and accelerated recovery compared to traditional open esophagectomy. It is particularly advantageous for patients with compromised pulmonary function or comorbidities precluding transthoracic approaches. Case Presentation: We present two cases of elderly male patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and dysphagia, both with a history of chronic bronchitis and moderate pulmonary impairment. Following multidisciplinary team (MDT) approval, both underwent IMLE under general anesthesia using an inflatable mediastinoscope with carbon dioxide insufflation for mediastinal dissection and lymph node clearance. One patient recovered uneventfully, while the other developed a postoperative pulmonary infection, which was successfully managed. Conclusion: IMLE provides significant benefits, including reduced morbidity, shorter recovery times, and effective oncological outcomes through comprehensive lymph node dissection. However, it demands specialized equipment and expertise, and potential complications necessitate meticulous patient selection. Further research is required to optimize this technique and broaden its clinical applicability. VL - 13 IS - 3 ER -