Background: Resection of primary esophageal cancer following previous pneumonectomy is a challenging procedure and was scarcely reported.
Case presentation: Here we report a case in which reduced thoracic space was used in left transthoracic esophagectomy to counter the difficulties caused by previous left pneumonectomy.
Conclusion: Retrograde dissection and infra-diaphragmatic esophagogastric anastomosis are examples of using postpneumonectomy changes to facilitate subsequent transthoracic esophagectomy for cancers of the lower esophagus.
Keywords: Dissection; Esophageal cancer; Esophagogastric anastomosis; Pneumonectomy; Transthoracic esophagectomy.