[Microvascular anastomoses in cervical esophageal reconstruction]

Ischemia or hemostasis in the gastric, jejunal, and colonic pedicle after esophagectomy is believed to contribute significantly to postoperative complications. With the advent of microvascular anastomoses, many surgeons have adopted vascular augmentation (supercharge) as a means of avoiding these difficulties. Microsurgical free tissue transfer represented by the free jejunum and forearm flap also plays an important role in esophageal reconstruction. In this paper, the authors introduce the technical points important for successful revascularization including the choice of recipient vessels, setting up of the reconstructive materials, and postoperative monitoring. In cases of gastric pull-up elevated via posterior mediastinum, the left gastroduodenal vessels are anastomosed to the cervical transverse or superior thyroidal vessels. In cases of duodenal or colonic pull-up elevated via the anterosternal route, the vascular pedicles are anastomosed to the internal mammary vessels which are dissected by resecting the costal cartilage. When the free jejunum flap is used, the cervical transverse or superior thyroidal vessels are most frequently used as recipients. Postoperative monitoring of free flaps is performed using Doppler ultrasound or through a small skin incision made above the transferred tissue. Although gastric or colonic pull-up is difficult to monitor, color Doppler sonography permits quantitative analysis of blood flow and may be a useful option.