Upper GI Surgery

Oesophagectomy

Minimally invasive and open oesophagectomy for cancer and benign strictures — performed by an experienced upper GI oncosurgeon.

Oesophagectomy

Oesophagectomy is one of the most complex operations in GI surgery — removing part or all of the food pipe and replacing it with the stomach (gastric conduit) or colon. Dr. Abhishek Aggarwal performs minimally invasive (MIE), open transthoracic and transhiatal oesophagectomy with full nutritional and ICU support.

Ivor-Lewis, McKeown and transhiatal approaches
Minimally invasive options for selected cases
Requires experienced high-volume surgical team
Essential component of curative oesophageal cancer care

3-FieldLymph Clearance

MIEKeyhole Option

ICUDedicated Care

High-VolTeam

Frequently Asked Questions

What is oesophagectomy?

Oesophagectomy is surgical removal of all or part of the oesophagus, usually for cancer. The stomach is re-shaped into a tube and pulled up to restore continuity.

What are the types of oesophagectomy?

Ivor-Lewis (abdomen + right chest), McKeown (abdomen + right chest + neck), transhiatal (abdomen + neck), minimally invasive (MIE) and robotic approaches.

What is minimally invasive oesophagectomy (MIE)?

MIE uses laparoscopy and thoracoscopy instead of open cuts. It reduces pulmonary complications and blood loss with equivalent cancer outcomes.

How long is the surgery?

Oesophagectomy takes 6-10 hours depending on approach and complexity.

How long will I stay in hospital?

Typical stay is 10-14 days with 1-3 days in ICU. Enhanced recovery pathways are shortening stays at specialist centres.

What happens to the oesophagus after removal?

The stomach is shaped into a tube (gastric conduit) and pulled up into the chest or neck to join the remaining oesophagus. Occasionally colon is used instead.

Will I be able to eat normally afterwards?

Yes, with adjustments — smaller, more frequent meals, upright posture, avoid lying down after eating. Most patients manage a near-normal diet in 3-6 months.

What are the main complications?

Anastomotic leak (5-15%), pulmonary complications, voice changes, reflux, dumping and stricture. High-volume centres have lower complication rates.

Do I need a feeding tube?

A feeding jejunostomy tube is usually placed during surgery for nutritional support in the early post-operative period. It is removed once oral feeding is adequate.

What is the survival after oesophagectomy for cancer?

Depends on stage. Stage I: 70-80% 5-year survival. Stage II-III with multimodal therapy: 40-50%. Specialist high-volume centre outcomes are significantly better.

Dr. Abhishek Aggarwal — Senior Consultant GI & HPB Oncosurgeon, BLK-Max Delhi

Meet Dr. Abhishek Aggarwal

12+ Years Experience500+ Cancer SurgeriesBLK-Max Delhi

Dr. Abhishek Aggarwal is a highly skilled GI & HPB surgeon with over 10 years of experience in managing complex gastrointestinal and hepato-pancreato-biliary diseases, with a special focus on oncological surgery. He currently serves as Associate Director – GI Oncosurgery at BLK-Max Super Speciality Hospital, where he is actively involved in delivering advanced surgical care for GI and HPB malignancies.

He has trained and worked in reputed high-volume centres, gaining extensive expertise in complex oncological procedures and multidisciplinary cancer care. His clinical practice is firmly grounded in scientific, evidence-based medicine, ensuring that patients receive treatment aligned with the latest global standards and research.

OPD Timing: 09:00 AM – 05:00 PM

Contact Dr. Abhishek →