Surg J R Coll Surg E
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Surg J R Coll Surg E · Feb 2007
Transhiatal oesophagectomy: A simple technique to carry out gastric or colonic conduit pull-up.
Following transhiatal oesophagectomy, delivery of the conduit into the posterior mediastinum and neck can potentially result in its devascularisation. A simple technique is described to protect the conduit during this phase of the operation. This procedure has now been performed in 56 consecutive cases (54 gastric and two colonic conduits). ⋯ The anastomotic leak rate was 8/56 (14%), and 12 (21%) patients required oesophageal dilatation for a stricture. There were no cases of ischaemia of the conduit. This technique provides a means of safe delivery of the oesophageal replacement into the neck following transhiatal oesophagectomy.