Colon interposition for esophageal reconstruction： A report of 46 cases

Objective：To evaluate the role of colonic interposition for reconstruction of the esophagus. Meth-ods: From April 1979 to October 1998, Thirty-one patients with benign esophageal stenosis and 15 patients with esophagus carcinoma received the colonic interposition for esophageal reconstruction. There were 5 pa-tients with the esophagus carcinoma after subtotal gastrectomy. Four of 5 cases received colonic interposition graft from the esophageal bed after the esophagus was pulled out without thoracotomy. Results: There was no perioperative death. All 31 cases of the benign esophageal stenosis got long term survival and normal life. The 3- and 5-year survival rates of patients with the carcinoma of the esophagus were 63. 6% and 40. 6% re-spectively. Conclusion: The colonic interposition graft is a choice for the patients with the cervical stenosis of the esophagus, especially for those already had subtotal gastrectomy. Using the left colonic artery as the sup-porting vessel and using the colon segment in an isoperistaltic position is the optimal choice. Improving the operative techniques and decreasing the complications are important for the extension use of this method.

Colon interposition for esophageal reconstruction: A report of 46 cases

Objective: To evaluate the role of colonic interposition for reconstruction of the esophagus. Methods: From April 1979 to October 1998, Thirty-one patients with benign esophageal stenosis and 15 patients with esophagus carcinoma received the colonic interposition for esophageal reconstruction. There were 5 patients with the esophagus carcinoma after subtotal gastrectomy. Four of 5 cases received colonic interposition graft from the esophageal bed after the esophagus was pulled out without thoracotomy. Results: There was no perioperative death. All 31 cases of the benign esophageal stenosis got long term survival and normal life. The 3- and 5-year survival rates of patients with the carcinoma of the esophagus were 63. 6% and 40. 6% respectively. Conclusion: The colonic interposition graft is a choice for the patients with the cervical stenosis of the esophagus, especially for those already had subtotal gastrectomy. Using the left colonic artery as the supporting vessel and using the colon segment in an isoperistaltic position is the optimal choice. Improving the operative techniques and decreasing the complications are important for the extension use of this method.