[Esophagus replacement by an isoperistaltic gastric tube (author's transl)].

In 20 patients the esophagus was replaced by an isoperistaltic gastric tube. Cervical esophagogastrostomy was performed. Postoperatively motility, histology, gastric secretion, and emptying time of the gastric tube were investigated. The esophageal replacement showed residual motility, pyloric motility, atrophic gastritis, decreased basal and stimulated secretion and normal emptying time, except in two patients. There were no essential drawbacks in function of the intrathoracic gastric tube. Patients with esophagectomy are comparable to patients with partial gastrectomy.