Esophagectomy outcomes at a mid-volume cancer center utilizing prospective multidisciplinary care and a 2-surgeon team approach

BackgroundEsophagectomy is associated with high morbidity and mortality, leading to calls for restricted performance at high-volume centers.MethodsPatients with esophageal cancer were evaluated prospectively in a multidisciplinary tumor board from January 2012 - December 2012. A 2-surgeon team was utilized and detailed outcomes were assessed prospectively.ResultsThirty-one patients underwent esophagectomy, 20 patients underwent laparoscopic transhiatal (65%) approach, and 11 patients underwent laparoscopically assisted Ivor-Lewis (35%) approach. Eighty-one percent of the patients were male, with a median age of 64 years (range: 35 to 83 years) and 73% of the patients had adenocarcinoma. Neoadjuvant chemoradiation was performed in 79% of the patients. R0 resection was achieved in 29 (94%) patients, median nodes identified were 15. Major complications (grade III to V) occurred in 13 (42%) patients and did not correlate with surgical techniques, anastomotic leak occurred in 5 (16%) patients, and significant pulmonary complications occurred in 11 (35%) patients. The length of stay at the hospital was 10 days, readmission rate 23%, and 30-day mortality rate 6%.ConclusionsHigh-quality esophagectomy can be performed safely at a mid-volume cancer center. Our outcomes question the reliance on volume alone as an indicator of cancer surgical quality.