Robotic applications in the treatment of diseases of the esophagus.

Minimally invasive treatment of esophageal diseases such as gastroesophageal reflux disease, achalasia, and esophageal cancer is associated with many of the benefits observed after the minimally invasive surgery for other diseases (such as symptomatic cholelithiasis) when compared with the open approach. Laparoscopic treatment of these esophageal conditions is technically complex and subject to several inherent limitations. Robotic surgical systems may allow surgeons to overcome many of these obstacles, enabling more widespread adaptation of these techniques.