J.Jpn. Surg. Soc.. 103(10): 729-732, 2002

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Feature topic

THORACOSCOPIC ESOPHAGECTOMY FOR ESOPHAGEAL CANCER;
RESULTS AND PROBLEMS

Endoscopic surgery for benign esophageal disease has been well established and is widely performed. On the other hand, endoscopic surgery for malignant esophageal disease has not yet been well established. However, we have developed and have been performing thoracoscopic esophagectomy with lymphadenectomy for esophageal cancer. We introduce here the results of our endoscopic surgery for esophageal cancer. ln the early period of this surgery, more operative complications occurred such as recurrent nerve palsy, chirothorax bleeding, etc. However these complications have gradually decreased. The survival rates of patients in eachpathological stage who underwent this surgery are comparable to those of patients who underwent conventional surgery. In conclusion, thoracoscopic esophagectomy has become safe and will be acknowledged as the standard procedure for the treatment of esophageal cancer.

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