BACKGROUND & AIMS It is important to identify superficial (T1) gastroesophageal adenocarcinomas (EAC) that are most or least likely to metastasize to lymph nodes, to select appropriate therapy. We aimed to develop a risk stratification model for metastasis of superficial EAC to lymph nodes using pathologic features of the primary tumor. METHODS We collected pathology data from 210 patients wi...

BACKGROUND Transhiatal esophagectomy for esophageal cancer implies blind manipulation of the intrathoracic esophagus. We report a secure hemostatic method with gauze packing in transhiatal esophagectomy. METHODS The gauze-packing technique is utilized for hemostasis just after removal of the thoracic esophagus during transhiatal esophagectomy. After confirming cancer-free margins, the abdomin...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The safety of minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) outside of high-volume centers has not been studied. Therefore, we evaluated our experience with the introduction of MIE in the setting of a community teaching hospital. METHODS A retrospective cohort of all elective esophagectomy patients treated in a community hospital from 2008 through 2015 was evaluated (n = 57...

HYPOTHESIS The perioperative outcomes of laparoscopic inversion esophagectomy (LIE) are comparable to those of open transhiatal esophagectomy (THE), with potential benefits related to the use of minimally invasive techniques. DESIGN Case-control study. SETTING Tertiary care university hospital. PATIENTS AND INTERVENTIONS From July 1, 2003, through March 31, 2008, 21 consecutive patients u...

BACKGROUND McKeown-type esophagectomy combined with retrosternal reconstruction is a common surgical treatment for esophageal cancer. Various enteral feeding options are available post-esophagectomy, but no definitive preference exists. METHOD "Retrosternal Route Gastrostomy Feeding (RGF)" was developed as an alternative enteral feeding approach that requires few additional surgical intervent...

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to analyze our experience with management of intrathoracic anastomotic leak after esophagectomy. METHODS Clinical data from 33 patients who developed intrathoracic anastomotic leak were evaluated retrospectively. These patients were selected from 1867 patients undergoing resection carcinoma of the esophagus and reconstruction between January 2003 and Decem...