Randomised trial, Minimally Invasive Oesophagectomy versus open oesophagectomy for patients with resectable oesophageal cancer

In 1991, Dallemagne introduced the right thoracoscopic approach for oesophageal cancer with total lung block, thereby mimicking the conventional approach (1). Initial reports showed a high conversion rate to thoracotomy of 10% to 17% and a high respiratory morbidity of 17% to 42% (2-3). Searching for reduction of the conversion rate and the respiratory infection rate, Cuschieri et al. designed the thoracoscopic approach in prone decubitus position so that a total collapse of the lung was no longer necessary for dissecting the oesophagus and thereby possibly reducing the rate of respiratory infections (4).