Anastomotic tissue oxygen tension during esophagectomy in patients with esophageal carcinoma

Submucosal tissue oxygen tension (PtO2) was measured in 20 patients with cervical esophagogastrostomy after resection of esophageal carcinoma, using a Clark-type oxygen electrode. The mean gastric baseline PtO2 was 54.6 +/- 10.7 mm Hg. Following ligature of the vasa brevia and the left gastroepiploic artery PtO2 decreased to 45.8 +/- 9.9 mm Hg, ligature of the left gastric artery caused a decrease to 34.2 +/- 9.7 mm Hg and resection of the lesser curvature and pulling up of gastric tube led to 25.5 +/- 9.0 mm Hg. Clinical value and practicability of intraoperative PtO2 measurements could be proven.