[Gastric bypass in incurable esophageal cancer]

Between 1977 and 1981, 70 patients were treated for esophageal carcinoma; 45 carcinomas were considered to be unresectable. In 11 of the 45, the site and stage of the tumor and the physical condition of the patient permitted palliative treatment with retrosternal gastric bypass. One patient died postoperatively. A gastric bypass enabled the remaining 10 patients to swallow normally and therefore led to significantly better quality of life. Only two patients survived for more than 1 year, the longest survival time being 15 months till now.