Free bowel transfer for esophageal reconstruction in the dog.

Clinical esophageal reconstruction in dogs is generally limited to the repair of small segments of cervical and terminal thoracic esophagus. The attempt was made to develop a procedure for the replacement of the entire thoracic esophagus. Three groups of dogs were used for microvascular colon transfers. Five dogs received orthotopic colon autografts. A segment of cervical esophagus was replaced in three dogs, and the entire thoracic esophagus was bypassed in six dogs. The orthotopic grafts worked well and the surviving dogs had normal stools within 48 hr of surgery. The cervical grafts all remained viable, and dogs were able to drink normally and swallow gruel from elevated bowls. Chronic regurgitation of solid food due to inadequate graft motility was an unresolved problem. All thoracic esophageal bypass grafts failed because of mechanical kinking of the vascular pedicles and leakage.