Colonic interposition for reconstruction after resection of cancer in the esophagus and gastroesophageal junction.

In 26 patients with carcinoma of the esophagus or gastroesophageal junction, intestinal interposition was performed in post-resection reconstruction, using left colon in 21 cases, right colon in one and a long jejunal segment in four cases. The tumor involved the gastric cardia in 16 patients with colonic interposition and five underwent palliative resection. Infectious pulmonary and abdominal complications were common. Three patients required reoperation, for empyema, ischemic colonic segment and subphrenic abscess, respectively. Ischemia of the interposed segment occurred in two patients, necessitating removal of the segment in one. There was no anastomotic dehiscence and no tumor in the margins of the resected tissue. The 30-day postoperative mortality was 1/22 and the mean postoperative hospital stay 24 days, with 11 patients discharged directly to their homes. The functional results 6 months postoperatively were favorable in most survivors, and only three complained of dysphagia.