Robotic transhiatal esophagectomy

Abstract

The first published report of robotic esophagectomy was in 2002, the transhiatal approach. Patients with severe dysplasia and early stage esophageal cancer, end-stage achalasia, severe refractory reflux disease, and other end-stage esophageal diseases that have resulted in a severely diseased nonfunctioning esophagus appear amenable to this approach. The anesthetic and surgical management are described along with the lessons learned from the surgical team. Each step of the procedure is illustrated and the outcomes of the procedure described. The outcomes from this procedure demonstrate an efficient technique that has great potential.