fig5

Figure 5. Pitfall around proper esophageal arteries. The adventitia of the thoracic aorta was exposed, and dissection of the anterior side of the thoracic aorta to the cranial side was performed. The roots of the proper esophageal arteries were identified. Black arrows showed the direction of tension given by the long retractor (A); when the proper esophageal arteries were divided using the sealing device, the assistant needed to decrease tension by the long retractor (red arrows) to avoid arterial damage (B)