THE ABDOMINO-THORACOSCOPIC ESOPHAGECTOMY - A STUDY BASED ON ANIMAL TRIALS

Based on animal trials the presented study results describe a method o f abdomino-thoracoscopic oesophagectomy for the treatment of oesophage al carcinoma of the middle and lower third. Technical details and the advantages of the surgical procedure, including the avoidance of thora cotomy and the practicability elf the thoracoscopic dissection of the oesophagous are shown. Problems exist in the salvage of the specimen, especially in the transcervical passage of the tumorbearing oesophagea l part. A final evaluation Of the importance of the minimally invasive techniques in oesophageal surgery should not be given until the resul ts of clinical studies are available.