Ivor Lewis Oesophagectomy – Oesophageal Cancer

The operation includes 2 individual procedures, one in the abdomen and the other in the thorax. The first consists of laparoscopically mobilizing the stomach and abdominal part of the oesophagus. In the 2nd stage a thoracotomy is performed on the right side of the chest and the thoracic part of the oesophagus is mobilised, the resection is carried out followed by anastomosis of the oesophagus with the stomach.

Oesophagectomy is the removal of most of the oesophagus.

The main function of the oesophagus is to transfer food from the mouth to the stomach.

After removing the section, the two ends are joined together again (anastomosis) which means most of the stomach will be positioned higher inside the chest than before, but it will function almost normally.

The amount of oesophagus that is removed depends on the size and location of the cancer.