Surgical treatment of epiphrenic diverticula: a 30-year experience.

Background: Epiphrenic diverticula are rare and associated with esophageal motility abnormalities. Their optimal surgical treatment is debated, mortality being 9% in the largest reported surgical series of 33 patients. Our experience with a traditional thoracic approach was reviewed to provide benchmark data against which newer surgical techniques can be measured.

Two thousand transhiatal esophagectomies: changing trends, lessons learned.

Objective: "Rediscovered" in 1976, transhiatal esophagectomy (THE) has been applicable in most situations requiring esophageal resection and reconstruction. The objective of this study was to review the authors' 30-year experience with THE and changing trends in its use.

Methods: Using the authors' prospective Esophagectomy Database, this single institution experience with THE was analyzed retrospectively.