Innovation in Esophageal Surgery

Assessment of surgical innovation is complex. This is especially true in esophageal surgery owing to difficulties in interpreting pathophysiology, staging malignant tumors with accuracy, and standardizing and tailoring the available surgical procedures to the individual patient. This book introduces the general and the thoracic surgeon to the latest developments in esophageal surgery; in each chapter the reader will find a concise background analysis of the topic in question and a state of the art review of diagnosis and treatment. The indications for surgery and the rationale for use of an innovative technique or technology are discussed in detail. Challenging and provocative questions and comments by selected panelists complement each chapter, enhancing the quality of information. Innovation in Esophageal Surgery will be highly informative for both the novice and the expert surgeon wishing to enter the arena of esophageal surgery. A multidisciplinary team of experts offers an evidence-based approach and critical analysis: endoscopic, surgical, and hybrid surgical techniques that will soon change the approach to esophageal disease are described in detail.