Extended left colon interposition for esophageal replacement using arterial augmentation

Gastric necrosis after esophagectomy is a difficult clinical problem. Remedial operations to reestablish gut continuity usually rely on the use of the left colon as the neo-esophagus. Previous resection of the necrotic stomach, adhesions associated with a multiple redo-laparotomy and the need to use a substernal route to reach the cervical esophagus all conspire to produce a requirement for increased conduit length. We present a case in which the "arterial supercharge technique" was used to provide a colonic interposition with extended length in such a clinical situation.