Open versus minimally invasive esophagectomy: what is the best approach? Minimally invasive esophagectomy.

INTRODUCTION: Esophageal cancer is a complex disease that is typically discovered at a late stage and is associated with a poor overall survival rate.

DISCUSSION: Regardless of surgical approach, esophagectomy carries a significant morbidity and mortality. The surgeon should choose the surgical approach based on her comfort level, training and experience. Further investigation is required to evaluate the translatability of minimally invasive esophagectomy on a large scale.