Esophagectomy with Operating Mediastinoscope

Yoon, Yong Han; Lee, Doo Yun; Lee, Sung Soo

Abstract

Esophagectomy has a high morbidity rate, mainly related to pulmonary complications. The respiratory morbidity of open esophagectomy is high, ranging from 6% to 10%. This high morbidity is partially responsible for the 6~15% mortality rate of esophagectomy. Many techniques of esophagectomy without thoracotomy have been described since the initial report of Orringer and Sloan. Endoscopic microsurgical dissection of the esophagus was clinically introduced in 1989. Endoscopic microsurgical dissection of the esophagus was developed as a minimally invasive procedure that avoids thoracotomy and provides precise vision during the operation in order to reduce mediastinal trauma and to improve the peri-and post-operative situation. A 20 year-old women who accidentally swallowed about 150 cc of glacial acetic acid underwent an esophagectomy using the operating mediastinoscopy, cervical esophagogastric anastomosis, pyloromyotomy, and feeding jejunostomy tube placement for esophageal stricture. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged on the 17th postoperative day. Our clinical experience shows that endoscopic microsurgical dissection of esophagus is a safe and feasible method because it offers excellent optical control and enables the surgeon to operate in a minimally invasive manner.