Single-access transhiatal esophagectomy for cancer: are we on the right way?

Minimally invasive surgery has gained wide application since its introduction and has been applied to all aspects of general surgery. The common denominator in minimally invasive surgery is to perform the same operation as in the open approach. Single access surgery has the same goal by reducing the number and the size of access incisions. We present the first case,to our knowledge,of single access transhiatal esophagectomy in a very compromised patient(chronic renal failure, diabetes on dialysis). The patient was not amenable to chemo or radiation therapy. Surgical technique is described step by step.