End to side anastomosis with a circular stapler for minimally invasive Ivor Lewis esophagectomy—how I do it

Abstract

: The Ivor Lewis MIE has been growing in popularity globally ever since it was made popular among the Western population by J. D. Luketich at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). Most patients in the West present with distal esophageal or esophago-gastric junction cancers, which favour the Ivor Lewis MIE, and an intrathoracic anastomosis as the operation of choice. However, the debate continues over which type of esophago-gastric anastomosis should be performed. The end-to-side stapled intrathoracic esophago-gastric anastomosis with a 28 or 29 mm circular stapler, and covering the anastomosis with an omental flap, is a well-established standardised technique at the UPMC and Norwich. In experienced hands, this technique is easy to execute once the anvil is inserted into the esophagus and the two purse-string sutures are tied. It has a low leak rate (<5%) when executed correctly. In the rare occurrence of a leak, the exact site of the leak can be visualised with a computerised tomography scan, since the titanium staples are easily identified radiologically. As a result, the defect at the circular anastomosis is easily located endoscopically. In addition, the leak is often small. Altogether, these factors favour the use of an EndoVac to treat the leak from a circular stapler. Hence, the authors advocate doing the circular stapled end-to-side esophago-gastric anastomosis, which is covered with an omental patch under a pleural tent.