Can you live without your esophagus?

It is possible to live without an esophagus, though some form of the esophagus typically remains after an esophagus removal surgery, or an esophagectomy. This surgical procedure is a possible treatment for someone suffering with esophageal cancer, according to the US Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center.

The esophagus passes swallowed food and drink along with saliva from a person's mouth to the stomach. In a typical surgery, the portion of the esophagus and lymph nodes with the cancer are removed, according to the Boston Medical Center. The remaining sections of the esophagus are connected. and the stomach is raised to allow for proper swallowing and digestion.