Transoral application of EEA stapler after subtotal oesophagectomy

Objective: To describe a new transoral technique of cervical oesophagogastr ic and oesophagojejunal anastomoses using the EEA stapler. Design: Prospective clinical study. Setting: University Hospital, Bratislava, Slovakia. Subjects: Two patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the middle and dista l third of the oesophagus. Interventions: Transhiatal subtotal oesophagectomy without thoracotomy, and cervical oesophageal anastomosis by transoral EEA stapling. Main outcome measures: Morbidity and mortality. Results: Transoral stapling was successful in both patients with no anastom otic leaks. The patients were discharged on the 14th and 21st postoperative days, respectively. Conclusions: Transoral stapling of the cervical anastomosis gave good resul ts in two patients. More development and evaluation are needed.