Minimally invasive surgery has become appropriate for certain patients with esophageal disease, either for benign conditions or malignant conditions. 

Minimally invasive esophagectomy is a procedure at the forefront and on the cutting edge of thoracic surgery.  Our surgeons perform this procedure in appropriate patients, and it is certainly suitable for the patient with multiple medical problems or a desire to avoid open surgery. 

Multidisciplinary Approach

We have worked closely with medical oncology and radiation therapy and have a multidisciplinary approach to patients with esophageal cancer. 

Patients can be seen either in the private offices of the surgical staff or in the multidisciplinary clinic where patients with esophageal cancer will be seen by a surgeon, medical oncologist, radiotherapists, and all appropriate personnel. 

Esophagectomy Results

There have been many studies that have shown that centers that perform high volumes of esophageal surgery have the best results.  This has certainly been the case at the Massachusetts General Hospital.  We perform between 65 and 75 major resections for esophageal cancer per year.  In 2004, two of our surgeons were the leading surgeons in Massachusetts in terms of the number of esophagectomies performed. 

Because of this high volume for surgery and the skilled team that takes care of them, from anesthesia to the operating room to the nursing staff in the ICUs and the floors, our results are among the best in the world in treating patients with esophageal cancer or other complicated conditions of the esophagus. 

--Douglas J. Mathisen, M.D.