The clinical value of intraoperative nerve monitoring (IONM) in thoracoscopic esophagectomy remains uncertain. The aim of this randomized clinical trial was to compare the impact of RLN visualization versus IONM on their morbidity following thoracoscopic esophagectomy.

Recurrent laryngeal nerves (RLN) lymph nodes are the most common metastatic areas in esophageal squamous carcinoma. It is a clinical challenge to reduce high incidence of RLN injury rate result from routine dissection of RLN lymph nodes. Thoracoscopic approach may provide a clear operative field and potentially less invasive surgery. But there are still high RLN injury rate only depending on visualization of thoracoscopy. The use of intraoperative nerve monitoring (IONM) was shown very helpful to identify the RLN and associated with a reduction of RLN injury rate in thyroidectomy. However, there is no solid clinical evidence about the effectiveness of utility of IONM in thoracoscopic esophagectomy. Thus, the aim of this randomized clinical trial was to compare the impact of RLN visualization versus IONM on their morbidity following thoracoscopic esophagectomy.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Histologically proven primary intrathoracic middle and lower esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and will undergo McKeown MIE and bilateral RLN lymph ndoe dissection.
2. No superclavicular lymph node metastasis after preoperative examination.
3. No contraindication for esophagectomy.
4. Expected surgical R0 resection.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Pre-existed vocal cord dysfunction.
2. Thorax pleural adhesion rendering minimal invasive approach unfeasible.
3. Gastric tube cannot be used for reconstruction.
4. Combined with hemorrhagic disease.
5. Psychiatric patients.
6. Inability to undergo curative resection and/or follow-up.