Perforation of the esophagus is a potentially serious and life-threatening medical emergency. Given the diverse etiologies and wide variety in clinical presentations of the perforated esophagus, the managing physician must possess a thorough understanding of the principles behind its treatment,…
A caustic esophageal ingestion involves damage to the wall of the esophagus, secondary to direct contact with an acid or base, through a well-described inflammatory response. Knowledge of the pathophysiology of caustic injuries guides complex management decisions through the multiple…
Submucosal tumors (SMTs) of the esophagus and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) are a group of rare, benign lesions. This chapter will review the various types of esophageal and GEJ SMTs. We intend to focus on advancements in the imaging modalities, medical…
Esophageal duplication cyst is one of two types of foregut duplication cysts. The other type is the bronchogenic duplication cyst, and they are both classified together due to their common embryologic origin. Duplication cysts are a rare entity, with most…
The esophagus has been dubbed the organ of symptoms not signs. Inflammation of this dynamic conduit will elicit manifestations that can severely impact a patient's life. These symptoms are universal regardless of the cause of inflammation. They may include dysphagia,…
Since Dobromysslow described the first esophageal resection with successful anastomotic reconstruction in 1901, the outcomes of esophagectomy have significantly improved and this surgery is now the mainstay of treatment for esophageal cancer. Data from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS)…
The American Cancer Society estimates that 16,940 new cases of esophageal cancer will be diagnosed in 2016, and in the same year there will be 15,690 deaths from esophageal cancer. Unfortunately, more than half of patients present with advanced disease…
Milestones in Surgery for Esophageal Carcinoma 1877—V. Czerny: first successful resection of the cervical esophagus for carcinoma 1913—F. Torek: first successful transthoracic resection of the esophagus 1913—W. Denk: cadaver and experimental animal studies on the transhiatal resection of the esophagus…
The extent of lymphadenectomy as part of an esophagectomy for cancer remains a controversial issue. The aggressive nature of the disease often means that both local nodal and distant metastases exist at the time of presentation. As such, locally advanced…
The use of minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) has increased over the past several years. The term minimally invasive can refer to performing either or both the thoracic and abdominal phases of the operation with either laparoscopic or robotic assistance. Transhiatal…