Minimally invasive esophagectomy is associated with superior survival, lymphadenectomy and surgical margins: propensity matched analysis of the National Cancer Database.

Despite excellent short-term outcomes of minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE), there is minimal data on long-term outcomes compared to open esophagectomy. MIE's superior visualization may have improved lymphadenectomy and complete resection rate and therefore improved long-term outcomes. We hypothesized that MIE would have superior long-term survival. Patients undergoing an esophagectomy for cancer between 2010 and 2016 were identified in the National Cancer Database. MIE included laparoscopic/robotic approach, and conversions were categorized as open. A 1:1 propensity match was performed. Lymphadenectomy and margin status were compared between MIE and open using Stuart Maxwell marginal homogeneity and Wilcoxon matched-pair signed-rank test. Survival was compared using log-rank test. 13,083 patients were identified: 8,906 (68%) open and 4,177 (32%) MIE. Propensity matching identified 3,659 'pairs' of MIE and open esophagectomy patients. Among them, MIE was associated with higher number lymph nodes examined (16 vs. 14, P < 0.001) and similar number of positive lymph nodes (0 vs. 0, P = 0.33). MIE had higher rate of negative pathologic margin (95 vs. 93.5%, P < 0.001). MIE was also associated with shorter hospitalization (9 vs. 10 days, P < 0.001). Survival was improved among MIE patients (46.6 vs. 41.4 months for open, P = 0.003) and among pathologic node-negative patients (71.4 vs. 61.5 months, P = 0.005). These data suggest that MIE has improved short-term outcomes (improved lymphadenectomy, pathologic margins, and length of stay) and also associated improved overall survival. The etiology of superior overall survival is likely secondary to many factors related and unrelated to surgical approach.