Fundus rotation gastroplasty: a modified gastric tube

Anastomotic failure remains to be one of the main problems in esophageal surgery with leakage rates up to 30% being reported currently. We addressed that problem by modifying the gastric-tube formation in utilizing all of the gastric fundus and omitting the resection of the lesser gastric curvature and accompanying vessels. Experimentally, those fundus-rotation gastroplasties were significantly longer and better perfused than conventional gastroplasties. In a clinical series of 53 patients (45 male, eight female, range 42-83 years) undergoing esophageal resection (49 malignancies, four non-malignant esophageal disease), four anastomotic leakages were found (7.5%). Three patients died due to a bronchial leak and adult respiratory distress syndrome, one with a complete gastric-tube necrosis and one with a colon perforation, sepsis and multiorgan failure. Eight patients developed a significant anastomotic stricture requiring repeated endoscopic dilatations. From our experimental and clinical experience, we conclude that the favorable length and perfusion of fundus-rotation gastroplasties allow for safe anastomosis at either the cervical or thoracic level.