Long-term results after esophagoplasty with colon. An endoscopic study

Eight patients from a series of 13 having esophageal resection and colon interposition for benign disease have been evaluated by endoscopic testing, with special emphasis on the mucosal long-term changes of the colon segment and their histologic documentation. The average follow-up period was 7.2 years. All patients were in a satisfactory nutritional state but described problems associated with eating, such as regurgitation of undigested foods and substernal postprandial heartburn. No stricture was present but endoscopy confirmed the existence of food in the haustra. There was no gross evidence of colitis but the histological evaluation revealed inflammatory cell infiltration or fibrosis in all patients but one. It is believed that the main cause of mucosal damage is the prolonged cascading of food and delayed emptying, leading to digestion in the haustra.