Novel technique for lymphadenectomy along left recurrent laryngeal nerve during thoracoscopic esophagectomy

Figure 3 Lymphadenectomy along the right RLN. A: The right RLN was revealed at the level of the right subclavian artery. The hollow-out method was performed to identify the right RLN, LNs along the nerve, and the tracheoesophageal vessels; B: The right inferior thyroid artery was the landmark for the cranial boundary of lymphadenectomy along the right RLN. (1) Right RLN; (2) Right vagus nerve; (3-5) Esophageal branches of the right vagus nerve and RLN; (6) Mediastinal pleura; (7) Right subclavian artery; (8) Right inferior thyroid artery.