Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 30, 2026
Low-Cost Single-Port (LoCoSP) Device for a Transcervical Approach in Minimally Invasive Transhiatal Esophagectomy
Published on: September 11, 2021
One hundred transhiatal esophagectomies: a single-institution experience
Guy Pines1, Yoram Klein, Ehud Melzer
1Department of Surgery B, Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot, affiliated with Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel.
Background:
Surgery is considered the mainstay of treatment for esophageal carcinoma. Transhiatal esophagectomy with cervical esophagogastric anastomosis is considered relatively safe with an oncological outcome comparable to that using the transthoracic approach.
Objectives:
To review the results of the first 100 transhiatal esophagectomies performed in a single Israeli center.
Methods:
The records of all patients who had undergone transhiatal esophagectomy during the period 2003-2009 were reviewed. The study group comprised the first 100 patients. All patients who had undergone colon or small bowel transposition were excluded. Indications for surgery included esophageal cancer, caustic injury and achalasia.
Results:
The median follow-up period was 19.5 months. The anastomotic leakage rate was 15% and all were managed successfully with local wound care. The benign stricture rate was 10% and all were managed successfully with endoscopic balloon dilation. Anastomotic leakage was found to be a risk factor for stricture formation. Overall survival was 54%. Response to neoadjuvant therapy was associated with a favorable prognosis.
Conclusions:
Transhiatal esophagectomy is a relatively safe approach with adequate oncological results, as long as it is performed in a high volume center.
