Thoracoscopic and laparoscopic esophagectomy

Esophagectomy is both complex and challenging, and it may be associated with significant morbidity and mortality. With improvements in instrumentation and increasing experience with laparoscopic and thoracoscopic techniques, minimally invasive approaches to esophagectomy are being explored to determine feasibility, results, and potential advantages. Most of this experience has been with case studies or small series, with many surgeons using thoracoscopy in combination with standard laparotomy. Many of the patients have been carefully selected for these procedures because they have small tumors or high-grade dysplasia. Our technique for esophagectomy has evolved from a laparoscopic transhiatal approach to a combined laparoscopic and thoracoscopic approach. Our experience with this procedure has increased, and now we offer this approach to the majority of patients with resectable cancers. We review our operative technique and the results of surgery in our first 50 patients who underwent minimally invasive esophagectomy for cancer or high-grade dysplasia.