Multicentre randomized clinical trial on robot-assisted versus video-assisted thoracoscopic oesophagectomy (REVATE trial).

Br J Surg 2024; 111: znae143.

This study included 203 patients with tumour lymph nodes near the recurrent laryngeal nerve. Successful removal of lymph nodes adjacent to the nerve was more likely with robotic dissection (88.3 versus 69 per cent video-assisted, P<0.001). The rate of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy after surgery was also reduced by robotic dissection: 20.4 versus 34 per cent, P=0.029.

Comment: Surgery was more accurate with the robot, with reduced recurrent laryngeal nerve damage.