Laparoscopic harvesting of jejunal free flaps for esophageal reconstruction

Endoscopic harvest of the jejunum is indicated for the reconstruction of complex defects of the head and neck and specifically the reconstruction of circumferential defects of the esophagus. However, open laparotomies are associated with systemic and local morbidity and are often seen as prohibitively invasive procedures. Laparoscopy for intra-abdominal procedures is a proven technique that yields less morbidity and provides an anatomical exposure similar to that of the open approach. We report on 11 consecutive clinical cases of free jejunal flap harvesting with the laparoscopic technique and show that the procedure is feasible.