Open left diaphragm method enables safe surgery with a good visual field in a laparoscopic transhiatal approach for esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma

Abstract Background Despite being oncologically acceptable for esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma with an esophageal invasion length of 3–4 cm, the transhiatal approach has not yet become a standard method given the difficulty of reconstruction in a narrow space and the risk of severe anastomotic leakage. This study aimed to clarify the safety and feasibility of the open left diaphragm method during the transhiatal approach for esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma. Methods This retrospective study compared the clinical outcomes of patients who underwent proximal or total gastrectomy with lower esophagectomy for Siewert type II/III adenocarcinomas with esophageal invasion via the laparoscopic transhiatal approach with or without the open left diaphragm method from April 2013 to December 2021. Results Overall, 42 and 13 patients did and did not undergo surgery with the open left diaphragm method, respectively. The median operative time was only slightly shorter in the open left diaphragm group than in the non-open left diaphragm group (369 vs. 482 min; P = 0.07). Grade ≥ II postoperative respiratory complications were significantly less common in the open left diaphragm group than in the non-open left diaphragm group (17% vs. 46%, P = 0.03). Neither group had grade ≥ IV anastomotic leakage, and two cases of anastomotic leakage requiring reoperation were drained using the left diaphragmatic release technique. Conclusions Transhiatal lower esophagectomy with gastrectomy using the open left diaphragm method is minimally invasive and safe, highlighting its advantages for Siewert type II/III esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma with an esophageal invasion length of ≤ 4 cm.