CASE REPORT
Excision of Esophageal Duplication Cysts with
Robotic-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery
Patrick Chidi Obasi, MD, Andre Hebra, MD, Juan Carlos Varela, MD, PhD
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
Esophageal duplication cysts are infrequent anomalies of
the gastrointestinal tract that are predominantly found in
children. The conventional surgical approach for removal
of these cysts is an open surgery one with a posterolateral
thoracotomy incision. However, more recently, these
cysts have been excised via video-assisted thoracoscopic
surgery (VATS). In this article, we present 2 pediatric
patients treated with successful excision of an esophageal
duplication cyst via robotic-assisted thoracoscopic surgery
(RATS) using the da Vinci surgical system. With robotic
technology, precise dissection and complete resection of
the thoracic mass was achieved without violating the
esophageal mucosa. There were no complications, and
the patients did not require placement of a postoperative
chest tube. Pathological examination of the mass was
consistent with an esophageal (foregut) duplication cyst
in both cases.
Duplication cysts of the alimentary tract are infrequent
anomalies that can affect any portion of the gastrointestinal
tract.1 The reported incidence of gastrointestinal duplication
cysts is 1:100 000, with approximately 70% to 75% of the
cases affecting children.2-4 The most common location for
these cysts is the ileum with the esophagus being the second
most prevalent site.1-4 Clinical presentation of patients with
esophageal duplication cysts is varied. In children, esophageal cysts become symptomatic in 80% of cases while most
adults with esophageal cysts are asymptomatic.2,5-9 The most
common complaints of symptomatic patients are dysphagia,
epigastric discomfort, and retrosternal pain.10-11 Once diagnosed, the definitive treatment for esophageal cysts is surgical excision. Most cysts are resected due to active symptoms.
However, cysts that are incidentally found and asymptomatic
are surgically resected to prevent potential complications
from untreated duplication cysts.2,10,12 Potential complications include cyst rupture, infection, and bleeding.2,10,12 In
addition, in rare cases, malignant transformation of the cysts
can occur.1,2 Furthermore, definitive diagnosis of esophageal
duplication cysts is made via pathological examination of a
surgical specimen.1,12 While open surgical resection via posterolateral thoracotomy is the conventional approach for
removal of esophageal duplication cysts, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has become a viable alternative
approach for the esophageal cyst excision.12 This report
describes the successful excision of an esophageal duplication cyst in 2 pediatric patients using robotic-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS) with the da Vinci surgical system
(Surgical intuitive, Mountain View, CA).
Key Words: Duplication cysts, robotic surgery, thoracoscopy, VATS.
CASE REPORTS
Division of Pediatric Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston,
South Carolina, USA (Drs Obasi, Hebra).
Medical Scientist Training Program, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA (Dr Varela).
DOI: 10.4293/108680811X13071180406961
Address correspondence to: Andre Hebra, MD, Division of Pediatric Surgery,
Medical University of South Carolina, Clinical Sciences Building, Suite 417, 96
Jonathan Lucas Street, Charleston, SC 29425, USA. Telephone: (843) 792-3853. Fax:
(843) 792-3858. Email: hebra@musc.edu
© 2011 by JSLS, Journal of the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons. Published by
the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons, Inc.
244
Case 1
A 12-year-old Caucasian female was brought in by her
parents for evaluation of new onset shortness of breath. A
CT scan of the chest with contrast was performed, and a
mediastinal mass was found. The mass measured 2cm x
1.5cm in size and was located in the posterolateral aspect
of the mid thoracic esophagus on the right (Figure 1A,
1B). The radiographic appearance of the mass was con-
JSLS (2011)15:244 –247
Figure 1. CT scan of the chest showing the presence of a mass on the posterolateral aspect of the esophagus on the right. A. Transverse
view. B. Coronal view.
sistent with a cystic lesion, likely an esophageal or bronchogenic duplication cyst. The patient was scheduled to
undergo surgical resection.
Case 2
A 15-year-old Caucasian male with a history of spinabifida, hydrocephalus, VP shunt, and a 1-week history of
back pain was evaluated with a CT of the thorax/spine,
which revealed a 2cm x 2cm retrocaval right-sided thoracic mass determined to be solid based on CT criteria. At
that time, his parent’s had reported several diaphoretic
spells. Differential diagnosis included carcinoid tumor,
neuroblastoma, and duplication cyst. Serotonin levels
were normal and markers for neuroblastoma were negative. Surgery was scheduled for resection of the mass.
Both patients were treated with robotic-assisted thoracoscopic resection. The technique used for both is described
here. After general anesthesia and intubation with a double lumen tube, the patients were placed in the left lateral
decubitus position with the right side of the chest up. An
8-mm da Vinci port used for the 3-dimensional 8-mm
camera was placed at the level of the sixth intercostal
space, at the mid axillary line. A total of 3 additional 8-mm
trocars were inserted under direct thoracoscopic guidance, one in the right upper chest behind the scapula and
2 in the right lower chest at the level of the mid axillary
line. Once all trocars were in adequate position, the da
Vinci camera was docked, followed by sequential docking
of each of the 3 instrument robotic arms. By using a
combination of da Vinci instruments including a small
electrocautery spatula, DeBakey dissector, and Cartier
grasper, the cyst was mobilized in each case. The duplication cyst was found to be approximately 2cm x 3cm and
covered by a layer of pleura, which was divided. Subsequently, the cyst was mobilized away from the pulmonary
vein. In both cases, the cyst was in very close relationship
to the thoracic esophagus and appeared to share a common wall. The cyst was mobilized carefully with sharp
and blunt dissection away from the esophagus by dividing
some of the muscle fibers of the esophageal wall without
entering the mucosa (Figure 2). No further surgical manipulations were necessary to enucleate the cysts. In one
case, the mucosa was exposed slightly but not injured,
and the lumen of the esophagus was not entered; hence,
we did not believe it was necessary to test the esophagus
for perforation via endoscopy. The posterior and anterior
branches of the vagus nerve were identified and dissected
away from this lesion with complete preservation of the
vagus. Complete resection of the cyst was achieved in
both cases. In one case, the cyst was removed intact.
However, in the second case, the cyst was ruptured due to
a small extravasation identified at the time of the procedure. As a result, the pleural cavity was copiously irrigated
and aspirated. The estimated blood loss was ⬍5cc, and no
chest tube placement was necessary. Complete re-expansion of the lung was achieved after evacuation of the
pneumothorax with a ravenel drainage tube placed
through one of the trocar sites and removed at the conclusion of the procedure.
Postoperatively, no complications occurred. Both patients
experienced minimal pain, and were mobilized/ambulating
and eating a normal diet by postoperative day 1. One patient
JSLS (2011)15:244 –247
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Excision of Esophageal Duplication Cysts with Robotic-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery, Obasi PC et al.
Figure 2. Intraoperative appearance of esophageal duplication cyst.
was discharged home on postoperative day 1, and the second one was discharged on postoperative day 2. Pathological examination of the excised specimens confirmed the
diagnosis of an esophageal (foregut) duplication cyst.
DISCUSSION
For an esophageal cyst to be classified as duplication, it must
meet the following criteria: (1)The cyst must be within or
attached to the esophageal wall, (2) it must be covered by 2
muscle layers, (3) and the lining must be squamous, columnar, cuboidal, pseudostratified, or ciliated epithelium.10 Clinical presentation varies, with the most common presenting
symptoms being dysphagia, epigastric discomfort, and retrosternal pain.10-12 In our cases, the patients presented with
new onset shortness of breath and chest pain. Preoperative
diagnosis of an esophageal cyst can be made by standard
radiological techniques like CT scans and endoscopic ultrasound.13-16 In one of our cases, the CT scan was somewhat
misleading, because it suggested the presence of a solid
posterior mediastinal lesion. However, at the time of surgery,
the lesion was found to be cystic, as would be expected with
a duplication cyst. Surgical excision is the definitive treatment for esophageal cysts. In addition, surgical excision is
also required for definitive diagnosis via pathological examination of the resected specimen. Open surgical resection via
posterolateral thoracotomy incision has been considered the
best surgical approach for the excision of the cysts. However, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has recently become a viable surgical option for the excision of
duplication cysts.12 Compared with the open approach,
VATS reduces postoperative pain, leads to earlier recovery
and hospital discharge, and has a better cosmetic outcome.12,17 Most recently, some have advocated the use of
robotic technology for surgical resection of such lesions.
Robotic-assisted thoracoscopic (RATS) surgery is becoming
more widely accepted and used.18-20 Compared with VATS,
RATS has a few advantages: (1)superior visualization of the
surgical field, (2) greater range of motion with multi246
articulated instruments, and (3) more precise movements
with tremor filtration and motion scaling.18 In this article, we
present 2 pediatric patients who underwent successful surgical resection of esophageal duplication cysts via RATS
using the da Vinci surgical system. As previously reported,18-20 we had no operative complications but did have
excellent postoperative outcomes including decreased pain
and early patient discharge.
CONCLUSION
This article expands the current literature on the use of
robotic surgery for the removal of mediastinal masses or
cysts, such as esophageal (foregut) duplication cysts.
Additionally, it provides further supportive evidence for
the use of robotic surgery as a safe and effective surgical technique in the management of intrathoracic pathology.
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