[Preliminary study on gastric tube esophagoplasty for corrosive strictures of the esophagus in children].

OBJECTIVE

To study the clinical value of gastric tube esophagoplasty for complicated corrosive stricture of the esophagus in children.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was performed to study 7 patients with complicated corrosive stricture of the esophagus who were treated with gastric tube esophagoplasty via retrosternal route between March 2010 and October 2011.

RESULTS

Three patients had a stricture longer than 2.5 cm, and 4 patients had more than one stricture. All the operations went well. The average time for mechanical ventilation postoperatively was 6 hours. No patients showed insufficient ventilation after withdraw of ventilator. There was 1 patient developed anastomotic leak which was healed a week later. One patient had anastomotic leak with pyloric obstruction, and the leak was healed 3 weeks after intraoperative placement of duodenal feeding tube and pyloric obstruction became patent 4 weeks later. There were 2 patients developed anastomotic stricture and they resumed normal diet after balloon dilatation. The average follow-up duration was 10.5 months. The quality of life was improved and no other complications were found.

CONCLUSION

Gastric tube esophagoplasty is a effective alternative for complicated corrosive stricture of the esophagus and the short-term outcomes are favorable.