Randomized comparison of prevertebral and retrosternal gastric tube reconstruction after resection of oesophageal carcinoma

Background: After potentially curative resection of oesophageal cancer and prevertebral gastric tube reconstruction, approximately one-quarter of patients develop secondary dysphagia due to locoregional recurrence. In half of them dysphagia can be prevented by using an extra-anatomical reconstruction route. The present randomized study was conducted to compare the technical and functional results after prevertebral and retrosternal gastric tube reconstruction. Methods: Sixty patients underwent resection of a carcinoma of the oesophagus or gastro-oesophageal junction with curative intent. Subsequently, these patients were randomly allocated to either prevertebral (n = 30) or retrosternal (n = 30) gastric tube reconstruction. Early and late complications and functional results were carefully monitored. Results: Creation of the retrosternal tunnel was not accompanied by any perioperative complications. Postoperative recovery, anastomotic leakage and benign stricture formation were not significantly different between the two groups. Functional results, as measured by scintigraphic gastric emptying, quantitative and qualitative oral food intake, and changes in body-weight were similar in the two groups. Conclusion: After subtotal oesophagectomy retrosternal gastric tube reconstruction can be performed easily and safely, and gives functional results similar to those obtained with prevertebral reconstruction In patients at high risk for developing secondary malignant dysphagia the extra-anatomical route is the reconstruction of first choice.