To explore the influence of minimally invasive esophageal cancer radical resection on pulmonary infection, T lymphocyte subsets and MMP-9 in elderly patients.

A total of 98 patients with elderly esophageal cancer from January 2015 to September 2017 were enrolled in the study. They were randomly divided into minimally invasive group and traditional group by using random number table method. The minimally invasive group was treated with minimally invasive esophageal cancer radical surgery, while the traditional group was treated with conventional esophagectomy. Surgical indicators, the incidence of postoperative lung infection, the level of T cell subsets and MMP-9 were observed and compared between the two groups. Statistical analysis were performed by using SPSS19.0 software. The surgical incision, operation time, blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, T-cell subsets, and MMP-9 levels were expressed as (±s), and were examined by using t test.The death rate was analyzed by Chi-square test. A P value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant difference.

The surgical indexes (average total length of the surgical incision, average operation time, amount of blood loss, postoperative hospital stay) in minimally invasive group were better than those in traditional group, with significant difference (P<0.05); The incidence of postoperative pulmonary infection in the minimally invasive group was 6.1%(3/49), significantly lower than 26.5%(13/49) in traditional group (P<0.05); 1 and 3 days after surgery, the levels of T-cell subgroups (CD3⁺ , CD4⁺ , CD4⁺ /CD8⁺ ) in minimally invasive group were higher than those of traditional group (P<0.05); The levels of MMP-9 in minimally invasive group was lower than in traditional group (P<0.05).

The effect of minimally invasive thoracoscopic esophagectomy for esophageal cancer in elderly patients is better. It could significantly reduce the surgical trauma, and improve the peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets and serum MMP-9 levels. It is worthy of clinical promotion.