Predictive factors of difficulty of thoracoscopic esophagectomy in the left decubitus position

Background We have sometimes experienced technical difficulty performing thoracoscopic esophagectomy because of the position of the descending aorta or width of the mediastinal space. In this study, we retrospectively investigated predictive preoperative factors that influence the procedure of thoracoscopic esophagectomy with a focus on the position of the descending aorta and width of the mediastinal space. Methods Ninety-five patients who underwent thoracoscopic esophagectomy for esophageal cancer by two specialists were included in this study. Thirty patients in whom both the operation time and blood loss in the thoracic region exceeded the median were categorized to the difficult group. The remaining 65 patients were categorized into the common group. During the evaluation of the position of the descending aorta, we measured the aorta–vertebra angle at the level of the left inferior pulmonary vein. During the evaluation of the width of the mediastinal space, we measured the sternum–vertebra distance at the level of the tracheal bifurcation. Results A forward stepwise logistic regression analysis revealed the following independent predictive factors of the technical difficulty of thoracoscopic esophagectomy: aorta–vertebra angle (≥ 30°), sternum–vertebra distance (< 100 mm), and clinical T stage (T3). Conclusions The position of the descending aorta, width of the mediastinal space, and clinical T stage are predictive factors of the technical difficulty of thoracoscopic esophagectomy. These factors might become supporting indices for the indication for thoracoscopic esophagectomy among trainees or the surgeons who introduce this procedure.