Protection against suture insufficiency in ante-thoracic esophagogastrostomy.

In attempts to decrease suture insufficiency in case of ante-thoracic esophagogastrostomy, a gastric tube was so specially prepared that the short gastric vessels as well as the splenic vessels were severed very adjacent to the spleen. The anastomosis of the gastric tube thus prepared to the cervical esophagus was made using EEA-autosuture instruments. The suture insufficiency rate was thus markedly improved, with a value of approximately 10 per cent. Even cases of suture insufficiency with minor leakage, control was complete with simple pressure with gauze.