Table 1. Steps in introduction of MIE at CDD, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm.

Step	Time	Implementation of MIE
1	2009–2012	Consultant surgeon IR, 3 years fellowship in minimally invasive UGI-surgery, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol, UK
2	March 2012	Consultant surgeons MN& ML visiting center with experience in the field of MIE, AMC, Amsterdam
3	May 2012	First case of hybrid esophagectomy, laparoscopic assisted (laparoscopy + thoracotomy)
4	June 2012	First case of minimally invasive Mc Keown (thoracoscopy + laparoscopy + cervical anastomosis) with the assistance of professor Cuesta, VUMC Amsterdam
5	August 2012 and ongoing	Initiation of 2 years fellowship (Japanese fellow) in UGI-surgery at DCC, Karolinska, Stockholm in collaboration with Cancer Institute Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
6	2012–2013	Consultant surgeon ML, 1 year surgical training in minimally invasive UGI-surgery at Flinders Medical Center, Adelaide, Australia
7	May 2014	Consultant surgeons IR, MN &ML together with Japanese fellow visited Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, dr Räsänen, with long experience within the field of MIE and intrathoracic anastomosis
8	July 2014	First case of minimally invasive Ivor-Lewis (laparoscopy + thoracoscopy + intrathoracic anastomosis)

MIE, minimally invasive esophagectomy.