OBJECTIVETo evaluate the transhiatus esophagectomy for patients with esophageal cancer.

METHODSClinicopathological data of 46 patients with esophageal cancer undergone transhiatus esophagectomy by single surgeon team from May 2000 to July 2007 were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSThese 46 patients included 44 esophageal squamous cell carcinomas,1 esophageal adenocarcinoma and 1 esophageal carcinoid. The lesions of 11 patients located at neck segment, 21 at upper segment, 5 at middle segment, and 9 at lower segment. All the patients were classified according to UICC TNM stage classification: 3 cases as stage 0, 6 cases as stage I, 17 cases as stage II a, 2 cases as stage II b, 16 cases as stage III. Six patients received preoperative chemotherapy and pathological complete response was seen in 2 cases. Reconstruction with stomach was performed in 42 cases and with colon interposition in 4 cases.All the tumors were resected, and there was no perioperative death. All the resected margins were pathologically clear. Postoperative complications occurred in 12 cases and were successfully treated, including 2 cases of hoarseness, 3 cases of cardiac arrhythmia,1 case of bilateral pleural effusion, and 6 cases of small anastomotic leakage at neck.

CONCLUSIONTranshiatus esophagectomy is an ideal choice in surgical treatment for patients with esophageal cancer, especially for the ones of aged, poor cardiac or pulmonary function, who can not afford the thoracotomy.