OBJECTIVE: Many Chinese doctors have performed microinvasive @entity418 resection in the semi-prone position. However, few reports have focused on high-quality methods of scavenging the peripheral lymph nodes (PLNs) of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis was performed on 145 cases of microinvasive @entity418 resection in the semi-prone position. Among which, 75 cases underwent complete freeing of the @entity1514 esophagus and subsequent scavenging of the PLNs of the left RLN from April 2011 to April 2012 (Group A). In the other 70 cases, the incompletely freed upper @entity1514 esophagus was suspended, and the PLNs of the left RLN were scavenged from May 2012 to April 2013 (Group B). RESULTS: The average number of scavenged PLNs of the left RLN in Groups A and B was 4.6    2.9 and 5.2    3.0 pieces, respectively (P = 0.799). The total scavenged PLNs of the left RLN in Groups A and B were 344 and 357 pieces, respectively. Among which, the broken lymph nodes were 109 and 66 pieces, respectively (P < 0.0001). The postoperative hoarseness rate in Groups A and B was respectively 12.0% and 2.8% (P = 0.038). CONCLUSIONS: Dissection of the left RLN can be easily performed after esophageal suspension, thus ensuring the quality of @entity6936 scavenging.

Esophageal suspension method in scavenging peripheral lymph nodes of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve in XXXX through semi-prone-position thoracoscopy.

@entity1514 :: ('MESH:D013896', 'Disease') :: ['thoracic'] @entity6936 :: ('5350', 'Gene') :: ['PLN'] @entity418 :: ('MESH:D004938', 'Disease') :: ['esophageal cancer']
@entity418 :: (MESH:D004938,Disease) :: ['thoracic esophageal carcinoma']
