Esophagectomy

Mayo Clinic's approach

Teamwork

Esophagectomy is an important part of esophageal cancer treatment, which can be extremely complex. At Mayo Clinic, specialists in thoracic surgery, digestive diseases, oncology and other areas work together to make sure that esophagectomy is the best treatment for you. They work as a team to manage your care, before and after surgery.

Holistic care

Doctors at Mayo Clinic provide care for you as a whole person. Doctors take the time to get to know you and work with you to provide exactly the care you need.

Advanced surgical techniques

Mayo Clinic doctors will work with you to review all of your treatment options and choose the treatment that best suits your needs and goals. Mayo Clinic surgeons can sometimes perform minimally invasive esophagectomies, which usually result in less pain, shorter hospital stays and faster recovery than traditional open surgery.

In some cases, it may be necessary to connect the esophagus to a portion of the intestine, rather than your stomach. Mayo Clinic doctors are experienced with supercharged jejunal interposition, a complex procedure that involves rebuilding the esophagus with a portion of the small intestine known as the jejunum.

An efficient system

To make the most of your time at Mayo Clinic, consultations with doctors, testing and treatment can usually be done in a single visit lasting several days.

Accessible locations

Mayo Clinic offers geographic accessibility to Mayo Clinic's campuses in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota from most locations. Each of these three sites can be accessed by nearby international airports.

Expertise and rankings

Experience and expertise

Mayo Clinic surgeons perform around 130 esophagectomies each year. Studies have shown that people who had esophagectomies at high-volume centers had a much lower risk of dying from the operation and less risk of complications than did people treated at low-volume centers (defined as less than 20 esophagectomies a year).

Research and innovation

Mayo Clinic specialists are at the forefront of new techniques for esophagectomy. You have access to the expertise of Mayo Clinic's clinician-researchers.

Nationally recognized expertise

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, ranks No. 1 for digestive disorders in the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals rankings. Mayo Clinic in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona, and Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, are ranked among the Best Hospitals for digestive disorders by U.S. News & World Report. Mayo Clinic Children's Center in Rochester is ranked the No. 1 hospital in Minnesota, and the five-state region of Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin, according to U.S. News & World Report's 2023–2024 "Best Children's Hospitals" rankings.

Learn more about Mayo Clinic's Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Oncology (Medical) departments' expertise and rankings.

Locations, travel and lodging

Mayo Clinic has major campuses in Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona; Jacksonville, Florida; and Rochester, Minnesota. The Mayo Clinic Health System has dozens of locations in several states.

For more information on visiting Mayo Clinic, choose your location below:

Costs and insurance

Mayo Clinic works with hundreds of insurance companies and is an in-network provider for millions of people.

In most cases, Mayo Clinic doesn't require a physician referral. Some insurers require referrals or may have additional requirements for certain medical care. All appointments are prioritized on the basis of medical need.

Learn more about appointments at Mayo Clinic.

Please contact your insurance company to verify medical coverage and to obtain any needed authorization prior to your visit. Often, your insurer's customer service number is printed on the back of your insurance card.

Clinical trials

Explore Mayo Clinic studies of tests and procedures to help prevent, detect, treat or manage conditions.