Papers
8
Total Citations
269
H-Index
7
About
Dr. Susumu Aikou is a pioneering surgeon whose research centers on robotic and minimally invasive approaches for esophageal and gastric cancers, with a particular focus on improving patient outcomes through reduced surgical trauma. His major contributions lie in developing and validating robot-assisted transmediastinal esophagectomy (RATME)—a nontransthoracic technique that avoids chest incisions, thereby lowering pulmonary complications while maintaining radical lymphadenectomy. His landmark 2015 study (81 citations) demonstrated superior short-term outcomes of robotic esophagectomy compared to conventional transthoracic surgery, and his meta-analysis (56 citations) established the efficacy of robotic gastrectomy. Dr. Aikou has also been instrumental in assessing long-term quality of life after these procedures, with several highly cited papers (30–39 citations) showing that patients experience better functional recovery and fewer respiratory sequelae. His work has been recognized as a critical step toward making robotic esophagectomy a standard treatment, despite ongoing debates about cost and evidence levels. With over 250 cumulative citations, Dr. Aikou continues to shape the future of esophageal cancer surgery by proving that innovation can reduce invasiveness without compromising oncologic rigor.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 4Robotic surgery for esophageal cancer: Merits and demerits35 citations · 2017
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