The 79th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Japanese Association for Thoracic Surgery

Chairperson: Takushi Yasuda（Division of Esophago‒Gastric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kindai University）, Hirofumi Kawakubo (Department of Esophageal Surgery, Cancer Institute Ariake Hospital)

There are two certification systems in surgical techniques for esophagectomy in Japan：the “Board Certified Esophageal Surgeon” accredited by the Japan Esophageal Society, and the“Endoscopic surgical skill qualification system：qualified surgeon（Esophagus）”accredited by the Japan Society for Endoscopic Surgery as part of its general and gastrointestinal surgery credentials. Although both relate to esophagectomy, their focuses differ. The former evaluates not only surgical skills but also comprehensive knowledge, decision-making ability, and clinical experience in the diagnosis, therapeutic strategies, perioperative management, and follow-up of esophageal diseases. In contrast, the latter specifically assesses surgical skills in thoracoscopic or robot assisted esophagectomy. <br/>When open surgery was the standard and minimally invasive thoracoscopic approaches were just being introduced, the distinct significance of each certification was clear. However, now that the majority of esophagectomies are performed using minimally invasive techniques, it is timely to reconsider and clarify their respective roles. <br/>In this session, we will present the current status and evaluation processes of both certifications, share practical tips and pathways for obtaining them, and exchange perspectives on their evaluation criteria. Through this discussion, we aim to lay the groundwork for defining their complementary roles in the future.