Current evidence on the efficacy and safety of minimally invasive oesophagectomy (MIO) is adequate to support the use of this procedure provided that normal arrangements are in place for clinical governance, consent and audit with local review of results.
Patient selection should be done by a multidisciplinary team specialising in the management of oesophageal cancer.
MIO is a technically challenging procedure, which should only be carried out by surgeons with special expertise and specific training. They should perform their initial operations with an experienced mentor.
Clinicians should enter details about all patients undergoing MIO onto the National Oesophago-Gastric Cancer Audit.