Left-sided subtotal oesophagectomy for carcinoma.

Oesophageal resection for carcinoma has been performed using a two-part left-sided approach with cervical anastomosis in 75 patients, all of whom have been followed up to death or for a minimum of 5 years. Operative mortality was 12 per cent, but long-term survival was 28 per cent for all squamous tumours and 12 per cent for all adenocarcinomas, irrespective of node status. It is suggested that this approach offers significant advantages.