OBJECTIVEto present the preliminary results of minimally invasive Ivor Lewis esophagectomy using a circular-stapled anastomosis with trans-oral anvil technique.

METHODSsix patients with esophageal cancer received minimally invasive Ivor Lewis oesophagectomy from April 2010 to June 2010. There were 5 males and 1 female with mean age of 55 years (ranging 38 to 69 years). The lesion located in cardiac in 1 case, in lower third of the esophagus in 4 cases and in middle third in 1 case. The abdominal portion was operated laparoscopically. The thoracic portion was done using thoracoscopic techniques. The esophago-gastric anastomosis was created using a 25 mm anvil passed trans-orally and connected to a 90 cm long polyvinyl chloride delivery tube through an opening in the esophageal stump. The anastomosis was completed by joining the anvil to a circular stapler (end-to-end anastomosis stapler) inserted into the gastric conduit.

RESULTSsix patients with esophageal squamous cell cancer (n = 5) and small-cell cancer (n = 1) underwent an Ivor Lewis esophagectomy. All the operation was successfully performed without intra-operative technical failures of the anastomosis. There was no severe postoperative complications. The mean operation time was 380 min. The mean blood loss was 300 ml. pTNM staging: T2N0M0 in 3 cases, T2N1M0 in 1 case and T3N0M0 in 2 cases.

CONCLUSIONSthe circular-stapled anastomosis with the trans-oral anvil is an efficient and safe technique for esophago-gastric anastomosis.