Safety and feasibility of total laparoscopic radical resection of Siewert type II gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma through the left diaphragm and left thoracic auxiliary hole

BACKGROUND: The incidence of adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG) is rising every year; however, the mode of operation for Siewert II AEG is still controversial. Accumulating evidence has shown that transabdominal surgery is better than transthoracic surgery for Siewert II AEG with esophageal invasion < 3 cm. In patients with obesity, a large tumor size, and high transection of the esophagus, the transabdominal esophageal hiatus approach for lower mediastinal lymph node dissection and posterior mediastinal anastomosis is difficult. Thus, total laparoscopic radical resection of Siewert II AEG is carried out through the left diaphragm and left chest auxiliary hole for the optimal surgical field of vision and space. In this prospective study, we assessed the feasibility of carrying out the procedure abdominally through the left diaphragm and auxiliary hole. METHODS: Ten patients with Siewert II AEG were recruited between April and June 2019. Siewert II AEG was treated by total laparoscopy through the left diaphragm and left chest auxiliary hole. Clinicopathological features, surgical data, and adverse events were collected and analyzed in this prospective study. RESULTS: The average duration of the operation was 348 ± 37.52 min, lower mediastinal dissection took 20.6 min, the OrVil anastomosis time was 29.8 min, the time necessary to suture the seromuscular layer through the left thoracic auxiliary hole was 11 min, the safety margin was 3.2 cm, and the total number of lymph nodes dissected was 40.6. The number of lower mediastinal lymph nodes dissected was 6.2. The rate of lymph node metastasis in the N110 group was 9 ± 12.45%, and the average intraoperative blood loss was 170 ± 57.47 mL. No anastomotic leakage or anastomotic stricture occurred after the operation. The time of intestinal function recovery was 2 days, and the first time of enteral nutrition through a jejunal nutrition tube was 2.4 days. No tumor recurrence was found in 10 patients at 1 year postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Total laparoscopic radical resection through the left diaphragm and left thoracic auxiliary hole for Siewert II AEG patients is feasible and safe. Thus, it may be a good surgical alternative for patients with esophageal tumors invading less than 3 cm. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR, ChiCTR2000034286. Registered 8 July 2020, http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=55866. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12957-021-02183-9.