Esophagectomy and esophageal replacement by gastric pull-through procedure

The gastric pull-through procedure is a relatively new surgical technique for carcinomas of the hypopharynx and cervical esophagus and benign diffuse stricture of the thoracic esophagus, that require total esophagectomy. This technique is original both in the exeretic and reconstructive phase: total esophagectomy is performed by blunt dissection; thoracotomy and pleural damage are avoided. The basic principle of the operation is the gastric transposition into the neck through the posterior mediastenum and a pharyngogastric or esophagogastric anastomosis, according to the type of disease. Fourteen of our cases who underwent a gastric pull-through are presented and discussed.