Transhiatal Esophagectomy in Benign Diseases: Study of Six Cases

Esophagectomy without thoracotomy was performed on six patients with benign esophageal diseases. In all but one case the gastrointestinal continuity was maintained by esophagogastrostomy, a colonic interposition was performed on a patient with severe corrosive esophagogastric injury. The average duration of the operation was 225 minutes, the average blood loss was estimated to be 515 ml. There was no mortality among the patients. Complications included pneumothorax (four cases), pleural effusion (one case), stenosis (one case), wound infection (one case). There was no anastomotic leak or recurrent nerve injury. Transhiatal esophagectomy is a preferable procedure for benign diseases as well as for esophageal carcinomas, as it is a simpler and safer method with lower pulmonary and septic complications than esophagectomy via thoracic route.