Complications following gastric tube esophagoplasty in children

Surgery in children with caustic esophageal burns, esophageal atresia or other esophageal disorders can be performed using gastric tube esophagoplasty. Between 1991 and 1999, a number of 41 such procedures have been performed in our department, using the original technique developed by Gavriliu. The results were assessed as good and very good in 83% of the cases, and fair or bad in the rest of 17%. We recorded 13 cases with significant complications, 4 of which ended with exitus. The paper present our experience in using gastric tube esophagoplasty and the management of the complications related to this procedure.