Essentials and future directions of robotic esophageal surgery

Although dramatic advancements have been made since the first reported esophagectomy in 1911, surgery of the esophagus remains one of the most challenging operations with high morbidity and mortality. Introduction and continuous development of laparoscopic techniques during the last two decades have led to a significant shift in the treatment algorithm of esophageal diseases, and, in most cases, minimally invasive esophageal surgery has now replaced open procedures as the standard of care. Recently, robotic applications in the realm of minimally invasive esophageal surgery are gaining acceptance, and this chapter will explore the safety and feasibility of such techniques.