Successful video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in prone position in patients with esophageal cancer and aberrant right subclavian artery: report of three cases

Background An aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA) with an associated nonrecurrent right inferior laryngeal nerve (NRILN) is a relatively rare anomaly that occurs at a frequency of 0.3 to 2.0% of the general population. NRILN has been mainly documented in the head and neck region; it has been rarely described in patients with esophageal cancer, especially those undergoing thoracoscopic surgery. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for esophageal cancer (VATS-E) is becoming more widespread as a reliable minimally invasive surgical procedure associated with reduced perioperative complications.