ESOPHAGEAL RESECTION FOR CANCER

Transhiatal esophagectomy and Ivor Lewis esophagectomy are the two maj or approaches to surgical resection for esophageal carcinoma. Guidelin es for selection of the best operative procedure and technical descrip tion of both procedures are provided herein. Minimally invasive esopha gectomy techniques are also presented but do not as yet have a clearly defined role in the surgical management of esophageal cancer. With cu rrently available techniques for esophageal cancer resection, operativ e mortality rates are low and morbidity is acceptable.