Retrosternal gastric bypass for the palliative treatment of unresectable oesophageal carcinoma. A simple technique.

A simple and effective technique of retrosternal gastric bypass of the excluded oesophagus for the palliative treatment of unresectable carcinoma of the upper thoracic oesophagus is described. It was used in 60 patients, of whom 5 (8,3%) died. Postoperative morbidity was considerable, complications including chest infection in 20 patients (33,3%), wound infection in 8 (13,3%) and anastomotic leakage in 5 (8,3%); the latter caused 2 deaths. All of the patients who survived the operation were able to swallow solid food and saliva satisfactorily.