Minimally invasive esophagectomy with extracorporeal gastric conduit creation--how I do it.

Esophagectomy is associated with significant morbidity and mortality rates. In an attempt to improve these results, many groups have started applying minimally invasive techniques to esophagectomy for benign and malignant disease. A variety of minimally invasive approaches have been developed. At the Thomas Jefferson University, we have offered minimally invasive three-hole esophagectomy with extracorporeal gastric conduit creation since 2008. Herein we report our technique for the abdominal and cervical components of the procedure and briefly discuss the current literature and our short-term perioperative outcomes.