Esophageal reconstruction for benign disease: a long-term appraisal.

Replacement of all or part of the esophagus, for whatever reason, requires intimate familiarity with the advantages, disadvantages, and long-term results of various techniques of reconstruction. For benign esophageal disease, because of the expected longer natural history of such lesions, long-term results should be more informative. The Mayo Clinic experience with esophageal reconstruction for benign disease is reviewed for the 15-year period of July 1955 through July 1970, critically evaluating the long-term results of from 8 to 21 years. Thirty-nine patients, with a male-to-female ratio of two to one, underwent 44 operative reconstructions. Only 41 per cent had uncomplicated postoperative courses, with a five per cent operative mortality (two patients) and a 15 per cent late related mortality. The average duration of hospitalization was three weeks. Despite the morbidity and mortality, most patients report good to excellent results, confirmed by physician assessment.