Technique of minimally invasive Ivor Lewis esophagectomy.

Since the initial description of laparoscopic fundoplication, surgeons have increasingly incorporated the techniques of minimally invasive surgery in the surgical management of esophageal diseases. Minimally invasive surgical techniques have been more frequently applied for benign esophageal disease, and are now being used for malignant disease. There are several approaches, which include the transthoracic and transhiatal approaches, for esophageal resection for cancer. The objective of this article is to describe our technique of minimally invasive Ivor Lewis esophagectomy. 2010 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.