A technique for gastroplasty as a substitute for the esophagus: fundus rotation gastroplasty.

Abstract

A new method of gastroplasty for the intrathoracic esophagus is described that requires resection of a small part of the gastric corpus only. All tributaries of the arterial arcade along the lesser curvature are preserved. The resulting gastric tube has three advantages over conventional techniques: an increase in length of the resulting gastric tube; an increase of blood flow at the tip of the gastric tube, where the anastomosis with the cervical esophagus is performed; and an increase of the gastric reservoir. Prospective clinical trial. The new technique described appears to be a safe method to substitute for the intrathoracic esophagus, although oncologic radicality and long-term follow-up results after esophagectomy for carcinoma need to be evaluated.