Low invasiveness of thoracoscopic esophagectomy in the prone position for esophageal cancer: a propensity score-matched comparison of operative approaches between thoracoscopic and open esophagectomy

Background In this study, cytokine levels, outcome, and survival rates after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer were retrospectively investigated in a propensity score-matched comparison of operative approaches between the thoracoscopic esophagectomy (TE) in the prone position and open esophagectomy (OE).