Esophageal Reconstruction by Colon Interposition

Abstract

Restoration of the continuity of the alimentary tract and resumption of normal swallowing poses a challenging problem in the management of esophageal cancer. In recent years, segments of colon have been widely used to replace a resected esophagus. However, the use of the colon to bypass a nonresectable and obstructive lesion has been highly controversial. The following is a retrospective study to evaluate the results of this procedure in patients with esophageal cancer at Memorial Hospital. Material and Methods From 1955 to 1968 inclusive colon interposition was performed on 88 patients for malignant tumors obstructing the esophagus. Seventy-five of these were for primary cancer of the thoracic esophagus. This latter group of patients will be the subject of our analysis. The lesion in all 75 patients was epidermoid carcinoma (Figure). Most of these tumors were located in the middle third of the esophagus. In the majority of patients seen at