Successful Left Thoracoscopic Esophagectomy for Congenital Esophageal Stenosis with a Useful Adjunct of Preoperative Endoscopic Marking

Abstract Introduction: Minimally invasive surgery is an alternative to open surgery in esophageal resection. Several studies have described thoracoscopic esophagectomy for esophageal stenosis in children.1–3 It is standard to conduct esophagectomy from the right thoracic cavity, so the aorta does not obstruct the procedure. So far, there have been no reports on left thoracoscopic esophagectomy in children. In a case of congenital esophageal stenosis, where the lesioned part was close to the esophagogastric junction, we show a successful left thoracoscopic esophagectomy with a useful adjunct of preoperative endoscopic marking. Materials and Methods: A 3-year-old female with Down's syndrome presented with the chief complaint of vomiting after eating solid food. The esophagogram and the esophageal endoscope revealed a pinhole stenosis in the lower esophagus, diagnosed as congenital esophageal stenosis. Balloon dilation was performed twice; however, esophageal perforation occurred on the second dilation. The ...