Esophagectomy: Removing a Portion of the Esophagus to Treat Cancer
Sometimes the best treatment for esophageal tumors is esophagectomy. With this procedure, some of the esophagus is removed and replaced with either part of the stomach or colon. Esophagectomy is the best hope for a cure for some patients with esophageal cancer, and it can work even after other treatments have failed.
Patients from all over Florida seek out AdventHealth Digestive Institute's advanced foregut surgeon Dr. Sharona Ross for her ability to provide minimally invasive surgery procedures. In most cases, Dr. Ross is able to offer minimally invasive esophagectomy, an approach that works just as well as an open procedure. Because it involves small incisions, minimally invasive surgery is easier on patients in a number of ways. While minimally invasive esophagectomy is still a major surgery, patients tend to have shorter hospital stays and faster recoveries than they would with a larger external incision.
Robotic Esophagectomy – Giving Patients a Minimally Invasive Option
Dr. Ross is accomplished in robotic-assisted surgery. Robotic esophagectomy involves several small incisions in the abdomen and small, robotic instruments. A tiny scope with a light and camera is inserted through one of these incisions so surgeons can see the surgical site. After surgery, patients are left with only a few small scars no larger than 8 mm long (roughly half the width of a dime) instead of a large abdominal incision of several inches.
Even when performed minimally invasively, an esophagectomy is a major operation. It will take a few weeks to fully recover, and patients can expect changes to their voices and digestive tracts while they heal. During their recoveries, patients will receive support from the AdventHealth Digestive Institute and instructions about how to progress from a thickened liquid diet to a normal diet as they are gradually able to tolerate larger quantities of food.
Because minimally invasive esophagectomy involves a faster recovery, many patients are able to begin the next portion of their cancer treatment sooner than they would after an open operation.
To view actual footage of these surgical procedures, please visit the PROCEDURE VIDEOS and ADDITIONAL RESOURCES page in the For Medical Professionals section of the site.
Mickle Center for Reflux and Esophageal Disorders
7 items. To interact with these items, press Control-Option-Shift-Right Arrow
Esophageal Cancer
Typically esophageal cancer requires surgery in addition to radiation and chemotherapy. Learn more about the surgical treatments our specialists can provide.
The experienced surgeons at AdventHealth Digestive Institute offer effective and permanent treatment for achalasia. Learn more about these treatment options.
AdventHealth Digestive Institute is a regional top provider of care for acid reflux: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and laryngopharyngeal reflux.
1 items. To interact with these items, press Control-Option-Shift-Right Arrow. These items are in a slider. To advance slider forward, press Shift-Command-Right Arrow. To advance slider backward, press Shift-Command-Left Arrow.
Surgical Consultations For Digestive Cancer Without The Wait
Appointments Within Five Days for Patients with Cancer
At AdventHealth Digestive Institute, we know that after being diagnosed with cancer, patients want and often need to begin treatment quickly. So we make it a priority to offer appointments for cancer surgery consultations within five business days, and often earlier.
Patients who are newly diagnosed with cancer, or have just found out they have cancer again, qualify for this priority access. Our surgeons will make themselves available to see you right away, even for a second opinion. We want to help you start your treatment as soon as possible.
3 items. To interact with these items, press Control-Option-Shift-Right Arrow. These items are in a slider. To advance slider forward, press Shift-Command-Right Arrow. To advance slider backward, press Shift-Command-Left Arrow.
Our website uses cookies. Please review our privacy policy to find out more about the cookies we use. Browsing our website means you accept these terms.
