BACKGROUND/AIM: Aim of this paper is to report a 40 years experience in performing colon interposition for pharyngoesophageal caustic injury. METHODOLOGY: In the period between 1965 and 2005, 83 colon interpositions were performed due to the pharyngeal and high esopahageal injuries. Patients were classified according to the uppermost level of stricture in 3 groups: supraglotic, hypopharyngeal and esophageal ostium. In most of the patients (89.1%) an extrapleural retrosternal by-pass colon interposition was performed, while in the remaining 10.9% a colon interposition with esophagectomy had to be done. Long-term follow-up results were obtained in the period between one and up to 30 years. RESULTS: Early postoperative complications occurred in 16.8% of patients, among which anastomotic leakage was the most common. Overall intrahospital mortality rate was 6%, while late postoperative complications were present in 14.4% of patients. Long-term follow-up was obtained in 84.2% of patients, with excellent functional results being present in 86.7% of them. CONCLUSION: Colon graft is an excellent esophageal substitute for patients with pharyngoesophageal corrosive strictures, and used by experienced surgical team it provides low postoperative morbidity as well as mortality rate, and a long time good and functional quality of life.
BACKGROUND/AIM: Aim of this paper is to report a 40 years experience in performing colon interposition for pharyngoesophageal caustic injury. METHODOLOGY: In the period between 1965 and 2005, 83 colon interpositions were performed due to the pharyngeal and high esopahageal injuries. Patients were classified according to the uppermost level of stricture in 3 groups: supraglotic, hypopharyngeal and esophageal ostium. In most of the patients (89.1%) an extrapleural retrosternal by-pass colon interposition was performed, while in the remaining 10.9% a colon interposition with esophagectomy had to be done. Long-term follow-up results were obtained in the period between one and up to 30 years. RESULTS: Early postoperative complications occurred in 16.8% of patients, among which anastomotic leakage was the most common. Overall intrahospital mortality rate was 6%, while late postoperative complications were present in 14.4% of patients. Long-term follow-up was obtained in 84.2% of patients, with excellent functional results being present in 86.7% of them. CONCLUSION: Colon graft is an excellent esophageal substitute for patients with pharyngoesophageal corrosive strictures, and used by experienced surgical team it provides low postoperative morbidity as well as mortality rate, and a long time good and functional quality of life.