The functional recovery of revascularised colon and jejunum replacing the cervical oesophagus.

An experimental animal model was set up to study the comparative behaviour of revascularised transplants of colon and jejunum used to reconstruct the cervical oesophagus. Age, sex and size matched greyhound dogs were used in the study. An investigation of the physiological behaviour of the graft mucosa was carried out at 8 weeks using the mucosal specific activity of the enzyme Na+K+ATPase. The findings demonstrate a clear depression in the functional behaviour of the jejunal graft mucosa, while the colonic graft mucosa remained biochemically unchanged. The significance of these findings is discussed, and the conclusion drawn that they support the hypothesis that colon makes a more stable and functionally superior free graft than jejunum when replacement of the cervical oesophagus is required.