A new flexible intestinal transposition forcep.

In this report, a new instrument is described which eases the transposition of portions of the intestine or stomach from the abdominal cavity to the neck in esophageal replacement operations. The instrument has two unique features: first, the shaft is flexible in all planes, and second, the gripping end can be adjusted for varying tissue thicknesses. The instrument has been successfully used at the Vancouver General Hospital to transpose colonic segments and the entire stomach from the abdomen to the neck to replace an excised esophagus or to bypass unresectable malignant growths. It is recommended as an improved way to transpose long intestinal segments or the entire stomach to the neck for anastomosis with the cervical portion of the esophagus.