Due to one reason or the other, such as cancer, severe reflux, strictures, benign tumors, or trauma, the esophagus may be affected and a part of it must be removed in a surgical procedure known as esophagactomy. Physicians carry out a diagnosis and then recommend esophagactomy, depending on the patient’s condition. Learn more about it and why India is the best option for this procedure. 

Symptoms when you need esophagactomy surgery

If a patient has esophagal cancer then there will be difficulty in swallowing food, pain in the chest, vomiting, and weight loss. Accidents or injuries may affect the esophagus. Physicians will carry out detailed tests to determine the condition and then recommend esophagactomy. 

Diagnosis

Patients undergo a variety of examinations such as X-rays, CT scan or MRI. Doctors may also carry out endoscopy or biopsy or PET scan to determine the location and extent of damage and then recommend esophagactomy. 

Treatment through esophagactomy surgery

The patient remains on an empty stomach on the night prior to the procedure. The surgical operation starts with general anesthesia and then the surgeon may conduct open surgery or use laparoscopy or robot assisted surgery to incise the damaged portions. 

Lymph nodes in the area may also be removed. The surgeon then reconstructs the esophagus using tissues from the intestines or stomach. It is for the surgeon to recommend chemotherapy or radiation if the patient has esophagal cancer. 

The patient stays in the hospital for a few days and remains under observation and treatment. Patients are given a liquid diet before graduating to soft solid foods. Medications may be given to alleviate pain and discomfort. Patients experience difficulty in swallowing after the surgery but recover in time. 

Success rate in esophagactomy surgery

Success of the esophagactomy procedure depends on various factors such as the nature of the damage, the patient’s health and age, and the skill of the surgeon. 

If it is cancer then the survival rate is good when combined with chemotherapy and radiation. If it is in an advanced stage then the success rate reduces. There may be other health related complications that affect the success rate. 

Risks in esophagactomy surgery

This is a major procedure and there are risks such as bleeding, infection, complications arising out of the surgery and anesthesia, and damage to the lungs or stomach. After the procedure it may happen that the esophagus narrows or there may be a complication such as the  dumping syndrome in which the contents of the stomach empty into the small intestine. Digestive functions may be affected. 

Why India is the best for esophagactomy surgery

India is the best option for esophagactomy for a number of reasons: 

• It costs far less for this procedure to be done in India compared with costs in western countries. 
• India has world class surgeons capable of the most complex procedures with a high success rate. 
• India has some of the best private clinics and hospitals with the latest equipments and top class healthcare personnel.
• There is no waiting period – you can pick a hospital in India that will carry out esophagactomy immediately.
• Indians provide better care and the vital human touch with close follow up to give the best post surgical care. 

Esophagactomy is a major surgery and needs the best in class services and for this India is the best option. Do not delay, fix an appointment right away.