Predictive factors for post-operative respiratory infections after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer: outcome of randomized trial.

Background: The first and only randomized trial comparing open esophagectomy (OE) with minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) showed a significant lower incidence of post-operative respiratory infections in the patients who underwent MIE. In order to identify which specific factors are related to a better respiratory outcome in this trial an additional analysis was performed.

Methods: This was a prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled trial.

Traditional invasive vs. minimally invasive esophagectomy: a multi-center, randomized trial (TIME-trial).

Background: There is a rise in incidence of esophageal carcinoma due to increasing incidence of adenocarcinoma. Probably the only curative option to date is the use of neoadjuvant therapy followed by surgical resection. Traditional open esophageal resection is associated with a high morbidity and mortality rate.