[Use of the colon for esophageal substitution. Mortality and morbidity. Report of 105 cases].

One hundred and five colonic interpositions were performed in 102 patients. The indications for operation were caustic stenosis in 57 cases (Group A) and esophageal cancer in 45 patients (Group B). The right colon was used in 97 cases and isoperistaltic transverse colon in 8 cases. Eighty-nine transplants were anastomosed to the cervical esophagus and 16 to the pharynx. The distal anastomosis was to the antrum in 67 cases, to the second duodenum in 37 cases, and to the jejunum in 1 case. The overall mortality rate was 8.6 percent (9 cases), 5.3 percent (3 cases) in group A and 13.6 percent (6 cases) in group B (p less than 0.05). The morbidity rate was significantly higher in group B than in group A (77.3 percent vs 53.7 percent, p less than 0.05). Ischemic necrosis (3 cases) and chronic ischemia of the transplant (7 cases) were the major complications. Strictures occurred at the proximal anastomosis significantly more often in group B (63 percent) than in group A (40 percent) (p less than 0.05). Seven failures occurred in 93 survivors, i.e. oral feeding was impossible. In conclusion, mortality and morbidity rates of coloplasty are high. The use of colon as an esophageal substitute is justified only in case of caustic stenosis with unavailable stomach.