Laparoscopic transhiatal esophagectomy with esophagogastroplasty.

Twelve patients with benign and malignant esophageal diseases were treated by transhiatal esophagectomy, without thoracotomy, using abdominal-mediastinal dissection conducted by videolaparoscopy. A cervical approach was used to retrieve the esophagus and to perform the esophagogastric anastomosis. The procedure was indicated in patients with advanced achalasia of the esophagus, severe reflux stenosis, squamous cell carcinoma, and adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. Three pleural perforations occurred during surgery. Blood loss was minimal. One patient required conversion to open surgery, two patients were submitted to chest drainage, and three had transitory dysphonia. One patient had an anastomotic leak with subsequent stenosis requiring endoscopic dilatation. No mortality occurred in this small series.