Cervical esophagus can be exposed via the left neck incision along the border of the SCM.
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Relevant anatomy during left neck exploration after division of the strap muscles and inferior thyroid artery.
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Note that the finger rather then a metal retractor is used to displace the thyroid gland to avoid injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve.
Please direct questions and comments to Evgeny V. Arshava, MD
Editor, Iowa Thoracic Surgery Protocols