5 Esophageal Technique Videos to Boost Your Skills

Although they are not as common as other thoracic surgeries, esophageal procedures are an important part of every thoracic surgeon’s repertoire. These five popular videos from CTSNet demonstrate different techniques for esophagectomy, hiatal hernia repair, and more.

Do you have a favorite esophageal procedure video on CTSNet? Let us know in the comments.

1. The Modified Ivor Lewis Esophagectomy Technique
By Brian Housman, Dong-Seok Lee, Raja Flores

Despite widespread use of the Ivor Lewis esophagectomy for esophageal cancer, complication rates remain high. The authors of this recent popular video have created a novel technique that minimizes two of the most common: anastomotic leaks and eradicates strictures.

2. Robotic Laparoscopic Transhiatal Anatomic Repair of Hiatal Hernias
By Farid Gharagozloo

While laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication is the most common method for HH repair, this video demonstrates robotic left transthoracic anatomic and physiologic repair as a helpful alternative. This method proved effective in lowering patients’ GERD-HRQL and Visick scores over the course of two years, setting them up for symptom relief and a low chance of recurrence.

3. Colonic Interposition for Salvage Esophagectomy with Supercharging
By Mujtaba Mubashir, Monisha Sudarshan, Jeremy Lipman, Dean Schraufnagel, Usman Ahmad, Sudish Murthy, Siva Raja

Next on the list, this video demonstrates a technique for colonic interposition to restore enteric continuity after a failed Ivor Lewis esophagectomy, with “supercharging” of the colonic conduit performed via additional arterial inflow and venous outflow.

4. Left-Sided Approach to Esophageal Mobilization for Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy in a Patient With a Right-Sided Descending Aorta
By Marisa Sewell, Mithran Sukumar, Ruchi Thanawala

In this recent case, anatomical variation required a left-sided approach to esophageal mobilization for hiatal hernia repair because of the patient’s right-sided aorta as well as the location of her esophagus in the left hemithorax.

5. Standardized Operative Approach for Total Minimally Invasive Ivor Lewis Esophagectomy in Hostile Abdomen
By Kian Banks, Nathan Alcasid, Cynthia Susai, Jeffrey Velotta

Finally, this video demonstrates a minimally invasive approach to the Ivor Lewis esophagectomy—a relatively new technique. The success of the suggests this approach could be used to improve the surgical treatment of esophageal cancer.