Revisiting the gastric pull-up for pharyngoesophageal reconstruction: A systematic review and meta-analysis of mortality and morbidity.

Gastric pull-up (GPU) is among the oldest techniques for reconstructing the pharyngoesophageal junction following cancer resection. This review examines morbidity and mortality rates following GPU pharyngoesophageal junction reconstruction from 1959 until present: 77 studies, 2,705 patients. The odds of mortality, anastomotic complications, and other complications decreased by 37.2% (95%CI = 28.0-45.3%; P < 0.0001), 8.0% (95%CI = -2.1 to 17.1%; P = 0.12), 21.0% (95%CI 3.5-35.2%; P = 0.021) per decade respectively. J. Surg. Oncol. 2016;114:907-914.