This is a new way to remove the esophagus using a robot through a small neck incision, without needing to open the chest or use special breathing equipment.
Scientific Claim
Single-port robot-assisted cervical esophagectomy (SP RACE) is a surgical technique that allows for mediastinal lymphadenectomy and esophagectomy without requiring single-lung ventilation or thoracotomy, using a cervical approach with the da Vinci SP system.
Original Statement
“SP RACE combines a cervical, mediastinal, and abdominal procedure, avoiding the transthoracic route but facilitating lymphadenectomy (Video 1). Neither single-lung ventilation nor thoracotomy are needed.”
Evidence Quality Assessment
Claim Status
appropriately stated
Study Design Support
Design supports claim
Appropriate Language Strength
probability
Can suggest probability/likelihood
Assessment Explanation
The study is a case series describing a surgical technique, not a clinical outcome study. The claim is descriptive of the procedure itself, not making claims about outcomes. 'Allows for' is appropriate for describing a technical capability.