The current role of transhiatal esophagectomy.

Transhiatal esophagectomy is gaining increasing use as the preferred technique for esophagectomy. In this article, the indications, diagnostic evaluation, and technical details of the operative procedure for transhiatal esophagectomy are reviewed. Results of large clinical series are discussed and the potential pitfalls and risks of the procedure are reviewed. Current controversies and future trends are also discussed.