Robot-Assisted Esophagectomy

Esophagectomy is the cornerstone of curative treatment for patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer (Rice et al., Dis Esophagus 29:913, 2016). Multimodality treatment with neoadjuvant therapy may lead to a 5-year survival rate of 50% compared to 30% with surgery alone (Shapiro et al., Lancet Oncol 16:1090, 2015). Even though surgical techniques are improving, esophageal surgery remains associated with significant morbidity and even mortality. This book chapter reports on robot-assisted esophageal surgery and its complications.