Intestinal bypass of the oesophagus: 117 patients in 28 years

This study includes 117 patients operated upon in the period from 1970 to 1999. Indications, surgical techniques, complications, and results are reviewed. Indications included: long-gap oesophageal atresia with or without fistula in 81 patients; peptic stenosis in 19; caustic stenosis in 12; oesophageal varices in 2; and 1 case each of oesophageal epidermolysis bullosa, total oesophageal leiomyomatosis, and a non-functioning antiperistaltic retrosternal colic graft operated upon in another hospital. A retrosternal bypass was performed 106 times: 98 first operations and 8 redos; the intrathoracic technique was used 19 times. The left transverse colon was used in 107 cases (85.6%), the right transverse colon in 8 (6.4%), and the ileocecum in 10 (8%). All the intestinal bypasses were placed in the isoperistaltic direction. There were 5 deaths in the first 11 years of our experience; no patient died from 1982 on. Ten complications were treated conservatively (8%): 2 wound infections healed with medical treatment, and 8 leaks of the cervical anastomosis closed spontaneously. The major surgical complications were 8 gangrenous bypasses (6.4%), removed and reoperated about 1 year later utilizing an ileocolic retrosternal graft. Three cases of peptic disease of the colic bypass (2.4%) were successfully treated with the author's technique. Nine patients had minor surgical complications (7.2%): 3 strictures of the oesophagocolic anastomosis in a retrosternal bypass (resected and reoperated) and 6 cases of adhesive occlusion. In our opinion, the best substitute of the oesophagus is the colon, particularly the left transverse segment, which may be placed behind the sternum or in the oesophageal bed, always in the isoperistaltic direction. The low mortality (4%), restricted to the early period of our experience, and few major surgical complications (6.4%) are acceptable considering the importance of the operation, and the long-term results may be considered very satisfactory.