An instrument for dissecting the esophagus.

Abstract

We describe an instrument for mobilizing the normal esophagus without thoracotomy. It is essentially a metal ring introduced through the neck that encircles the esophagus, separating it from surrounding tissues. Preliminary studies of 12 cadavers were followed by clinical application in 18 patients with esophageal carcinoma and two with benign esophageal lesions. Pneumothorax occurred in 20%, recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy in 25% (4 of 5 were transient), and thoracotomy for postoperative bleeding from the tumor bed in two cases. No anastomotic leakage occurred. Mortality rate at 30 days after operation was 15%, with an in-hospital mortality rate of 20%. Use of the instrument did not cause any of the described complications. In one patient the esophageal carcinoma was adherent to the trachea, which was injured. No incidence of hypotension or arrhythmia was observed during thoracic esophageal dissection. Blood loss from the mediastinum wa unremarkable. The treatment by stripping is a palliative treatment and precludes a radical curative attempt. The use of this instrument is contraindicated in lesions of the upper and middle parts of the esophagus, and it is not intended to strip a bulky esophagus as in achalasia. The esophageal dissector made mobilization of the normal thoracic esophagus easier and less time consuming, and yielded no episodes of hypotension or arrythmia.