Illustration of the required incisions for a subtotal oesophagectomy with reconstruction. An abdominal incision, or laparotomy, required to practise reconstruction techniques on the oesophagus and to perform a lymph node excision. A second incision, thoracic, or right-side thoracotomy, required to removed the thoracic oesophagus and perform a thoracic lymph node excision. A third incision, cervical or left-side cervicotomy, practised to removed the upper part of the oesophagus up to the pharynx and to join up the remaining upper part of the oesophagus to part of the colon or jejunum.