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Esophagectomy - open
Definition
An esophagectomy is surgery to remove part or all of the esophagus, the tube that moves food from your throat to your stomach. After it is removed, the esophagus is rebuilt from part of your stomach or part of your large intestine.
Most of the time, esophagectomy is done to treat cancer of the esophagus.
Alternative Names
Trans-hiatal esophagectomy; Trans-thoracic esophagectomy; En bloc esophagectomy; Removal of the esophagus - open; Ivor-Lewis operation
Description
There are many ways to do this surgery. Talk with your doctor about what type of surgery is best for you. It will depend on where in your esophagus the cancer is, how much it has spread, and how healthy you are.
Laparoscopy is one way to do this surgery. A laparoscope is a tiny camera that is inserted into your belly through a small surgical cut. See also: Esophagectomy - minimally invasive
Open surgery is another way to do an esophagectomy. Two ways to do an esophagectomy using open surgery are:
Trans-hiatal esophagectomy:
- Your surgeon will make two large cuts, one in your neck area and one in your upper belly.
- Your surgeon will close off one part of your stomach with staples and cut this section off. This part of your stomach will be used to form a new tube to replace the part of your esophagus that is removed.
- Your surgeon will remove the part of your esophagus where the cancer or other problems are.
- Your surgeon will join together your rebuilt esophagus and stomach in your neck.
- Lymph nodes in your neck and chest may also be removed if cancer has spread to them.
- Your surgeon will place a feeding tube in your small intestine so that you can be fed while you are recovering from the surgery.
Trans-thoracic esophagectomy:
- Your surgeon will make two cuts, one in your right chest and one in your upper belly.
- Your surgeon will close off one part of your stomach with staples and cut this section off. This part of your stomach will be used to form a new tube to replace the part of your esophagus that is cut out.
- Your surgeon will remove the part of your esophagus where the cancer or other problems are.
- Your surgeon will join together your rebuilt esophagus and stomach in your neck or chest.
- Lymph nodes in your neck and chest may also be removed if cancer has spread to them.
- Your surgeon will place a feeding tube in your small intestine so that you can be fed while you are recovering from the surgery.
Your surgeon may also examine and do a biopsy of the lymph nodes in your belly to see if the cancer has spread to them.
En bloc esophagectomy is another type of esophagectomy. It is the most invasive of these procedures.
- To do it, your surgeon will make large cuts in your neck, chest, and belly. All of your esophagus and part of your stomach will be removed.
- The rest of your stomach will be reshaped into a tube and placed in your chest to replace your esophagus. The stomach tube will be connected to the remnant of the esophagus in the neck.
- Your surgeon will also remove all lymph nodes in your chest and belly.
Most of these operations take about 3 - 6 hours.
Why the Procedure Is Performed
The most common reason for removing part, or all, of your esophagus is to treat cancer. You may also have radiation therapy or chemotherapy before or after surgery.
Surgery to remove the lower part of your esophagus may also be done to treat:
- Achalasia, a condition in which the esophagus doesn't work well
- Pre-cancerous changes in the tissue of your esophagus, called high-grade dysplasia (Barrett's esophagus)
- Severe trauma
Risks
Esophagectomy is major surgery and has many possible risks. Some of them are serious. You should discuss these risks with your surgeon.
The risks from this surgery, or for problems after surgery, may be greater than normal if:
- You are unable to walk, even for short distances (this increases the risk of blood clots, lung problems, and pressure sores)
- You are still growing
- You are older than 60 - 65
- You are a heavy smoker
- You are obese
- You have lost a lot of weight from your cancer
- You are on corticosteroids
Risks for any anesthesia are:
- Allergic reactions to medicines
- Breathing problems
Risks for any surgery are:
- Blood clots in the legs that may travel to the lungs
- Blood loss
- Heart attack or stroke during surgery
- Infection, including in the surgical wound, lungs (pneumonia), bladder, or kidney
Risks for this surgery are:
- Acid reflux
- Injury to the stomach, intestines, lungs, or other organs during surgery
- Leakage of the contents of your esophagus or stomach where the surgeon joined them together
- Narrowing of the connection between your stomach and esophagus
Before the Procedure
You will have many doctor visits and medical tests before you have this surgery. Some of these are:
- A complete physical examination
- Visits with your doctor to make sure other medical problems you may have, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart or lung problems are under control
- Nutritional counseling
- A visit or class to learn what happens during the surgery, what you should expect afterward, and what risks or problems may occur afterward
- If you have recently lost weight, your doctor may put you on IV nutrition for several weeks before the surgery
If you are a smoker, you should stop smoking several weeks before the surgery. Your doctor or nurse can help.
Always tell your doctor or nurse:
- If you are or might be pregnant
- What drugs, vitamins, and other supplements you are taking, even ones you bought without a prescription
- If you have been drinking a lot of alcohol, more than 1 or 2 drinks a day
During the week before your surgery:
- You may be asked to stop taking drugs that make it hard for your blood to clot. Some of these are aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), vitamin E, warfarin (Coumadin), and clopidogrel (Plavix),or ticlopidine (Ticlid).
- Ask your doctor which drugs you should still take on the day of your surgery.
- Prepare your home for after the surgery.
On the day of your surgery:
- Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your surgery.
- Take the drugs your doctor told you to take with a small sip of water.
- Your doctor or nurse will tell you when to arrive at the hospital.
After the Procedure
Most people stay in the hospital for 7 to 14 days after an esophagectomy. How long you stay will depend on what type of surgery you had. You may spend 1 to 3 days in the intensive care unit (ICU) right after surgery.
You will stay in the hospital for 10 to 14 days after en bloc esophagectomy
During your hospital stay, you will:
- Be asked to sit on the side of your bed and walk on the same day you had surgery
- Not be able to eat for at least the first 2 to 3 days after surgery. After that, you will begin with liquids. You will be fed through a feeding tube that goes into your intestine.
- Have a tube coming out of the side of your chest to drain fluids that build up
- Wear special stockings on your feet and legs to prevent blood clots
- Receive shots to prevent blood clots
- Receive pain medicine through an IV or take pills. You may receive your pain medicine through a special pump. With this pump, you press a button to deliver pain medicine when you need it. This allows you to control the amount of pain medicine you get.
- Do breathing exercises
Outlook (Prognosis)
Many people recover well from this surgery and can eat a fairly normal diet after they recover. Talk with your doctor about the best way to treat cancer.
Esophagectomy is best performed at a center that routinely does this type of surgery.
References
Maish M. Esophagus. In: Townsend CM, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2008:chap 41.
National Cancer Institute. Esophageal Cancer Treatment PDQ. Updated 01/24/2011.
Reviewed By: Shabir Bhimji, MD, PhD, Specializing in General Surgery, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Midland, TX. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
