[Experience with radical operation for lower thoracic esophageal cancer through left diagonal thoraco-laparotomy and right posterolateral thoracotomy].

Two cases were reported in which subtotal thoracic esophagectomy, total gastrectomy, splenectomy and distal pancreatectomy was performed for the lower thoracic esophageal cancer through right diagonal thoraco-laparotomy and left posterolateral thoracotomy. Reconstruction was done with the intrathoracic esophagojejunostomy. Extubation could be done on the 1st postoperative day, and postoperative course was uneventful. It was thought that the approach with left diagonal thoraco-laparotomy and right posterolateral thoracotomy was useful for the easy and complete lymph node dissection from the middle mediastinum to the intra-abdominal cavity.