Intravenous hyperalimentation as an adjunct to colon interposition for carcinoma of the esophagus

Ten consecutive malnourished patients with undifferentiated squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus underwent operation for colon interposition. They received intravenous hyperalimentation preoperatively and/or postoperatively for an average time of 21.5 days and had an average weight gain of 6.5 lb. There was no significant gastrointestinal morbidity, but one patient succumbed to aspiration pneumonia. All ten patients had postoperative gastrografin swallow radiography which showed no leaks in either anastomosis. With proper use of intravenous hyperalimentation, morbidity and mortality following colon interposition in the malnourished patient for either palliative or curative bypass can be decreased to acceptable levels.