Esophagectomy is a surgical procedure that aims at removing the oesophagus or a portion of it and then reconstructing it using living tissue, taken from some other organ in the patient's body. The procedure is usually recommended to patients suffering from advanced esophageal cancer and occasionally to those suffering from Barrett's oesophagus, with the aim of extracting the diseased tissue and relieving symptoms. The procedure can be done by the conventional method as well as via a minimally invasive approach using laparoscopy or robotic assistance.
Indications
Esophagectomy is usually performed to treat advanced oesophagus cancer. Other conditions that may call for the need of the procedure include:
- Esophageal dysplasia
- Traumatic injury to the oesophagus
- Chronic inflammation
- Swallowing difficulties caused by narrowing or tightening of the oesophagus
- Recurrent gastroesophageal Reflux
- Hole or injury in the oesophagus
Procedure
There are several different approaches for performing esophagectomy. These include:
- McKeown esophagectomy, in which doctors make several small incisions in the neck, chest and abdomen, to remove the oesophagus and construct a new gastrointestinal tract
- Thoracoabdominal esophagectomy, in which doctors make a single incision from the patient's chest to the left side of the abdomen, and another incision in the neck.
- Transhiatal esophagectomy, in which the incisions are made in the neck and the abdomen, and the oesophagus is removed with the help of fingers.
- Ivor Lewis esophagectomy, in which one incision is made on the right side of the chest and another incision is made on the patient's abdomen
- Minimally invasive esophagectomy, in which the whole procedure is carried out via a minimally invasive approach, using thoracoscopy or laparoscopy.
Why Eternal Hospital?
At Eternal Hospital, we have a highly qualified and dedicated team of experts who are always committed to providing the latest and most advanced medical care to all our patients. Being a trusted name in healthcare, we act compassionately while ensuring confidentiality to those who need it. We have set high standards in patient-centric premium care along with outstanding patient safety and exceptional maintenance in a timely manner. We adhere to the use of up to the minute innovations to offer state-of-the-art treatments to our patients with unparalleled results.
