Transhiatal esophagectomy after major thoracic surgery. Don’t give up too soon!

Transhiatal esophagectomy (THE) involves a partially blunt dissection in the posterior mediastinum with incomplete visualization. The technical feasibility and safety of THE following thoracic surgery is unclear. We retrospectively identified cases of patients(5) who underwent transhiatal esophagectomy following major thoracic procedures. All patients had successful Transhiatal resections of esophageal cancer with minimal intraoperative complications (Table 1). THE is a feasible and safe approach, in experienced hands, for patients with previous thoracic surgeries especially in patients who are not candidates for single lung ventilation.