[Secondary isophageal reconstruction after resection of a cardia carcinoma (author's transl)].

Following abdomino-thoracical total gastrectomy and partial resection of the esophagus performed because of the presence of a stomac cancer located in the upper part of the organ an attempt was made to execute from a left sided thoracotomy an esophago-jejunostomy. During which it was found that the previously prepared loop of the jejunum was too short. The execution of a colon interposition in this particular operational state would have been too demanding on the patient; therefore the operation was concluded with a blind closure of the distal end of the esophagus and a jejunostomy (discussion of the resultant problems included in paper). The reconstruction of the digestive tract by retrosternal colon interposition a few weeks after the resection of the cancer proceeded without complication and with consequently excellent functional effect.