A simple laparoscopic method to provide access to the gastroesophageal junction in obese patients

By now, the feasibility of laparoscopic surgery in obese patients is well established; a conversion rate of 1.4-4.3% has been reported [1, 2]. The main reason for conversion in these cases is the difficulty encountered in exposing the gastroesophageal junction due to a huge fatty liver that covers the entire upper abdomen ("the invisible stomach" [1]). We report here a simple method that allows easy access to the upper stomach in such cases. This technique involves the exposure of the gastroesophageal junction using a laparoscopic suprahepatic route.