UAB Cardiothoracic Surgery Annual Report 2015-16 UAB Medicine Cardiothoracic Surgery 2015/16 Annual | Page 40

THORACIC SURGERY

“Robotic thoracic esophagectomy using ports only is feasible, safe, and affords
R0 resection with thorough thoracic lymph node dissection. It also allows the
sewing of a two-layered chest anastomosis, with good early results.”
– Robert Cerfolio, MD

ESOPHAGEAL OPERATIONS
UAB thoracic surgeons perform esophageal operations for benign and malignant disorders of the esophagus.
Other conditions treated include Barrett’s esophagus, achalasia, esophageal stricture, esophageal leak and/
or fistula, esophageal diverticulum, paraesophageal hernia, and GERD. Between 2011 and 2015, 88% of
esophagectomies were performed using robotic technology, and in 2015, all esophagectomies were performed
utilizing robotic technology.
At UAB, the procedure typically is performed to treat esophageal cancer. The median length of stay following an
esophagectomy at UAB was 8 days, which is considerably shorter than the STS national average median of 10
days.

Esophagectomy Volume: 2009 – 2015
40

39

30

29

26

23

25

23

20

16

10
0
2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

Esophagectomy Outcomes: 2013 – 2015

38

Volume

UAB Operative
Mortality

UAB %
Operative Mortality

STS Benchmark

64

1

1.5%

3.6%

Cardiothoracic Surgery Annual Report

2015