[Clinical study of colic vessels with respect to their significance in the replacement of the esophagus by the colon].

In 162 cases of esophageal replacement by colon we observed the configuration, distribution and pulsation of the middle, left, right and marginal colic arteries. Observation showed that the middle colic artery had only one major stem in 120 cases, 2-4 branches in 37 cases, and was absent in 5 cases. The middle colic artery originated from the superior mesenteric artery in 126 cases, had one stem originating from the superior mesenteric artery and another from the right colic artery in 10 cases. The middle and the right colic arteries forming one stem and originating from the superior mesenteric artery were seen in 21 cases. The distributive patterns of the middle colic arteries showing "T" type was seen in 37 cases, "V" type in 28 cases, and multiple paralleled branches in 9 cases. Vascular anastomoses between the ascending branch of the left colic artery and the middle colic artery were available in 157 cases (97%), 12 cases with the arc of Riolan. The nearest distance between the marginal artery and the colic wall was at the splenic flexure. The origin of the right colic artery varied greatly and its distributive area was small. We advocated the use of the ascending branch of the left colic artery for blood supply and the transverse colon for replacement of the esophagus in an isoperistaltic fashion (131/162 cases) to be the procedure of choice.