RATE Procedure Effective In Esophageal Cancer

Robotic-assisted transhiatal esophagectomy (RATE) is a technically complex procedure but is proved to be safe with and effective for the surgical treatment of oesophageal cancer. A study is based on 100 patients, most of whom had cancer, at Virginia Piper Cancer Institute -- Abbott Northwestern. Clinical and safety information was interpreted by the Allina research team and survival data was analyzed by a collaborator at Masonic Cancer Center at the University of Minnesota.

Progression-free (PFS) and overall (OS) survival were estimated. Postoperative complications commonly observed were nonmalignant pleural effusion (38%) and recurrent laryngeal nerve injury (33%); 30 day mortality rate was 2%.

Robotic technology gives surgeons a better view during surgery and lymph nodes can be removed without additional incisions on the patient.

"Very few centers have adopted robots for this procedure because of the technical difficulties and unique skills that are needed by the surgeons and the operating room staff," says Daniel Dunn, M.D., a retired Allina surgeon and the study's principle investigator.

"But the robotic arms can turn and twist and reach more places than human hands will ever be able to."

Source-Eurekalert