• There are 3 surgical approaches to the equine esophagus:
  • Ventral cervical.
  • Ventrolateral.
  • Thoracotomy.
• Their use is dictated by the anatomic location of the lesion and the purpose of the surgery.
• See also:
  • Esophagotomy Esophagus: esophagotomy.
  • Esophagostomy Esophagus: esophagostomy.

Uses

• Ventral cervical: surgery of the proximal three-quarters of the cervical esophagus.
• Ventrolateral: recommended for placing a feeding tube and for approaching the distal one-third of the cervical esophagus. The proximal and mid-cervical esophagus can also be accessed through this approach.
• Thoracotomy Thorax: thoracotomy: to approach the thoracic esophagus.

Advantages

• A choice of approach, guided by the level of esophageal lesion and prospective surgical technique.

Disadvantages

• Esophagostomy and selected esophagotomy incisions can be done on standing sedated horse Anesthesia: standing chemical restraint.
• General anesthesia recommended for most esophagotomy incisions.
• Different approaches required for different anatomical levels of esophagus.

Technical problems

• Damage to recurrent laryngeal and vagal nerves can lead to laryngeal hemiplegia Larynx: hemiplegia.

Time required

Preparation

• General anesthesia induction and maintenance: 20 min.
• Aseptic preparation: 10-15 min.

Procedure

• Cervical approaches (including closure): 30-40 min.
• Thoracotomy Thorax: thoracotomy: 60-120 min.

Decision taking

Criteria for choosing test

• Dysphagia.
• Esophageal cyst .
• Megaesophagus Esophagus: megaesophagus.
• Reduplication.
• Diverticulum.
• Stricture Esophagus: stricture.
• Fistula.
• Impaction Esophagus: impaction.
• Foreign body.
• Neoplasia.

Risk assessment

• Same as thoracotomy Thorax: thoracotomy.
• Damage to surrounding structures, eg recurrent laryngeal nerve, vagosympathetic trunk.