Robot-assisted Minimally Invasive Thoracolaparoscopic Esophagectomy Versus Open Transthoracic Esophagectomy for Resectable Esophageal Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: The standard curative treatment for patients with esophageal cancer is perioperative chemotherapy or preoperative chemoradiotherapy followed by open transthoracic esophagectomy (OTE). Robot-assisted minimally invasive thoracolaparoscopic esophagectomy (RAMIE) may reduce complications.

Methods: A single-center randomized controlled trial was conducted, assigning 112 patients with resectable intrathoracic esophageal cancer to either RAMIE or OTE.

Intraoperative and postoperative risk factors for anastomotic leakage and pneumonia after esophagectomy for cancer.

Morbidity and mortality after esophagectomy are often related to anastomotic leakage or pneumonia. This study aimed to assess the relationship of intraoperative and postoperative vital parameters with anastomotic leakage and pneumonia after esophagectomy. Consecutive patients who underwent transthoracic esophagectomy with cervical anastomosis for esophageal cancer from January 2012 to December 2013 were analyzed.

Changes after transformation from a specialized surgical unit to a general mixed intensive care unit.

Objectives: We report the transition of a specialized surgical intensive care unit to a general mixed intensive care unit (ICU) and its influence on immediate outcome and performance data of the surgical population before and after the reorganization.

Methods: All consecutive patients (2420 admissions) entering the surgical intensive care unit, period 2004-2007. After the year 2005, all specialized units were combined into 3 general mixed units.

Robot-assisted minimally invasive thoraco-laparoscopic esophagectomy versus open transthoracic esophagectomy for resectable esophageal cancer, a randomized controlled trial (ROBOT trial).

Background: For esophageal cancer patients, radical esophagolymphadenectomy is the cornerstone of multimodality treatment with curative intent. Transthoracic esophagectomy is the preferred surgical approach worldwide allowing for en-bloc resection of the tumor with the surrounding lymph nodes. However, the percentage of cardiopulmonary complications associated with the transthoracic approach is high (50 to 70%).

Using SNOMED CT to identify a crossmap between two classification systems: a comparison with an expert-based and a data-driven strategy.

A crossmap between successive versions of classification systems is necessary to maintain the continuity of health care documentation. A reference terminology can serve as an intermediary to support this task. Within this study we evaluated the use of SNOMED CT to create a crossmap between two versions of an intensive care classification system.