Method and system for transhiatal esophagectomy

1. A method of performing a medical procedure in a patient, the method comprising:

creating an incision in the patient;

inserting a flexible guide tube into the incision;

advancing a flexible instrument through the guide tube;

positioning a distal tip of the guide tube adjacent to a gastroesophageal junction;

passing the instrument through an esophageal hiatus; and

retracting a liver of the patient to visualize the gastroesophageal junction.

2. The method of claim 1 , further including passing the distal tip of the guide tube through the esophageal hiatus and dissecting at least part of an esophagus from the gastroesophageal junction to a cervical region of the esophagus.

3. The method of claim 1 , further including mobilizing the gastroesophageal junction.

4. The method of claim 1 , further including dividing circumferentially a phrenoesophageal ligament.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein dissecting includes starting a dissection laterally and includes anterior to posterior dissection.

6. The method of claim 1 , further including dilating the esophageal hiatus.

7. The method of claim 1 , further including accessing at least part of an esophagus by dissecting tissue surrounding the at least part of the esophagus.

8. The method of claim 1 , further including positioning a platform relative to the patient, wherein the platform is fixedly positioned relative to the patient, fixedly coupled to the guide tube, and configured to permit selective movement of the guide tube relative to the patient.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the platform includes a mounting system configured to permit free and locked movement between the guide tube and the patient, and a sliding assembly configured to permit incremental movement between the guide tube and the patient.

10. A method of performing a medical procedure in a patient, the method comprising:

creating an incision in the patient;

passing a distal tip of a flexible guide tube through the incision;

locating a flexible optical device and a flexible instrument within the guide tube;

retracting at least part of an organ to create a pathway from the incision to an esophageal hiatus;

advancing the distal tip of the guide tube along the pathway to the esophageal hiatus;

positioning the optical device to visualize a phrenoesophageal ligament;

dividing the phrenoesophageal ligament using the instrument; and

passing at least one of the guide tube, the optical device, and the instrument through the esophageal hiatus.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the incision is a single incision.

12. The method of claim 10 , further including dissecting at least part of an esophagus from tissue surrounding the esophagus.

13. A method of performing a medical procedure in a patient, the method comprising:

creating an incision in the patient;

passing a distal end of a flexible guide tube and a distal end of a flexible instrument through the incision;

creating a pathway from the incision to an esophageal hiatus using at least one of the guide tube and the instrument;

positioning an optical device to visualize the esophageal hiatus;

dilating the esophageal hiatus using the instrument;

passing the instrument through the esophageal hiatus and into a mediastinum; and

passing the guide tube through the esophageal hiatus and into the mediastinum.

14. The method of claim 13 , further including dissecting an esophagus from a gastroesophageal junction to a cervical esophagus.

15. The method of claim 13 , further including removing a lymph node from the mediastinum.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the incision is in an abdominal wall of the patient.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the incision is in an abdominal wall of the patient.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the incision is in an abdominal wall of the patient.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the instrument is a retractor.

20. The method of claim 13 , wherein the guide tube is attached to a mounting system, and the method further includes locking the mounting system in a position relative to the patient.