[Esophagojejunostomy--how safe is manual suture today?].

Between 1982 and 1986 a total of 137 patients were gastrectomized for cancer of the stomach. The esophago-jejunal anastomosis was always carried out as an end-to-side anastomosis applying the conventional two layer technique. Only in 1 patient (0.7%) an insufficiency of this anastomosis was observed; 9 reoperations (6.6%) were necessary and 3 patients (2.2%) died in the postoperative course. These results confirm that with a precise, standardised conventional suture technique the esophageal anastomosis can be safely performed today.