Why it's done

Esophagectomy is the main surgical treatment for esophageal cancer. It is done either to remove the cancer or to relieve symptoms.

During an open esophagectomy, the surgeon removes all or part of the esophagus through an incision in the neck, chest or abdomen. The esophagus is replaced using another organ, most commonly the stomach but occasionally the small or large intestine.

In most circumstances, esophagectomy can be done with minimally invasive surgery, either by laparoscopy, robot assisted or a combination of these approaches. When the individual situation is appropriate, these procedures are done through several small incisions and can result in reduced pain and faster recovery than conventional surgery.