Long-term Health-related Quality of Life Following Esophagectomy: A Nonrandomized Comparison of Thoracoscopically Assisted and Open Surgery.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess long-term health-related quality of life (HRQL) in patients after thoracoscopic and open esophagectomy.

Summary Of Background Data: Trials comparing minimally invasive with open transthoracic esophagectomy have shown improved short-term outcomes; however, long-term HRQL data are lacking. This prospective nonrandomized study compared HRQL and survival after thoracoscopically assisted McKeown esophagectomy (TAMK) and open transthoracic Ivor Lewis esophagectomy (TTIL) for esophageal or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer.