Pharyngostomy with double tube and anastomosis in the posterior wall of the stomach as a method of avoiding leakage after esophagectomy

Abstract

The cervical esophagogastrostomy is a surgical method that has frequent fistula-like complications and it increases the morbidity and mortality rate in surgical treatment for carcinoma of the esophagus. One-hundred and thirty-eight instances of carcinoma of the esophagus were treated surgically from 15 October 1968 to 30 April 1986. In the last 15 instances (10.8 per cent), esophageal anastomosis with the posterior wall of the stomach was done. The decompression of anastomosis and enteral nutrition are done by a Kher drain and Levine catheter, respectively, that are exteriorized by a pharyngostomy. With this method, no fistulas occurred after cervical esophagogastrostomy.