Colon Interposition for Corrosive Esophageal Stricture: Single Institution Experience with 119 Cases

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Surgical Oncology
• Thoracic Surgery

Background:

• Corrosive ingestion often necessitates esophageal replacement.
• Colon interposition serves as a viable alternative graft for esophageal reconstruction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the outcomes of colon interposition for esophageal replacement in patients with corrosive ingestion.
• To assess the surgical experience and complication rates associated with this procedure.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of clinical data from 119 patients who underwent colon interposition.
• All procedures utilized a retrosternal route for graft placement.
• Data collected included operative time, blood loss, anastomosis sites, and postoperative complications.

Main Results:

• The median operative time was 390 minutes, with a median blood loss of 615 mL.
• Cervical anastomosis was performed at the hypopharynx, larynx, or cervical esophagus in most patients.
• Postoperative complications included anastomotic leakage (5%), wound infection (1%), recurrent laryngeal nerve injury (3%), stress ulcer bleeding (3%), and incomplete intestinal obstruction (2%). All patients survived the 12-month follow-up period.

Conclusions:

• Colon interposition is a well-suited and effective method for esophageal reconstruction.
• Flexible graft selection based on vascular supply and length is crucial.
• Minimizing postoperative complications is essential for improving patient quality of life.