[Free jejunal grafts for reconstruction of pharynx and cervical esophasgus]

Eleven patients with hypopharyngeal carcinoma were treated surgically and the pharynx and cervical esophagus were reconstructed with free jejunal grafts through the technique of microvascular anastomosis. The microvascular anastomosis were all successful and the patients all survived the operations. The operations were performed at one time with only a few complications. There were 2 cases of pharyngeal fistula and 1 case of bleeding from the anastomotic site. The patients could eat by their mouths and swallow very well just 15 days after the operation. The 3-year suvival rate was 36%. The main causes of death were the recurrence and the metastasis to the cervical lymph nodes. We came to the conclusion that the operation is safe with high success rate and no mortality during operation, and it is less injurious than the gastropharyngeal anastomosis. The key point of the operation is the surgeon's mastery of the microvascular anastomosis technique.