[Is jejunostomy needed in single-stage plastic operations on the esophagus?]

50 patients with carcinomas or corrosive strictures of the esophagus were operated upon with the simultaneous esophagogastroplasty. At the same time the primary provisional jejunostomy after Witzel was performed on 20 of them in order to ensure an adequate decompression and nutrition at the early postoperative period. In cases of dangerous complications (fistulas of esophagogastrostomies--in 37%, purulent mediastinitis or empyemas--in 14% etc.) the use of jejunostomy allows enteral nutrition to be prolonged up to the moment of the independent oral feeding. It is concluded that the formation of primary jejunostomy for curative and prophylactic purposes is expedient in the simultaneous reconstructive esophageal operations for tumors and strictures.