Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the result of transhiatal esophagectomy in treatment of esophageal cancer. Material and method: Between January 2000 and December 2010, 152 consecutive patients (148 males, 4 females, median age = 54.5 years) underwent transhiatal esophagectomy
invasive malignancy was detected preoperatively in all of them. Prospective data and survival data were obtained for these patients. Results: There was 1 post - operative death (0.7 percent). Major complications included: respiratory complications in 11 patients (14.8 percent), and clinically apparent anastomotic leak in 4 patients (2.3 percent). Median length of hospital stay was 12 days. With a median follow up of 26 months, one, three and five year survival rates were estimated at 74.1 percent, 36.5 percent and 12.7 percent respectively. Conclusion: Transhiatal esophagectomy is an effective operative approach for tumors of the infracarinal esophagus. Oesophagectomy without thoracotomy is safe procedureand have low mortality and morbidity. Five year survival rates is 12.7 percent.