Esophageal replacement using the colon: a 15-year review

Colonic interposition is a treatment option in childhood when esophageal replacement (ER) is necessary. We reviewed 18 children who underwent ER by colon between 1984 and 1999. There were 5 with esophageal atresia and 13 with corrosive esophagitis; 15 had long-term follow-up (mean 38 months). Three procedures were performed by the Waterston technique and 12 by the retrosternal technique. ER was completed in a single stage in all but 1 patient. Pyloroplasty or antire-flux surgery were not done routinely during colonic interposition. As early complications, we observed 11 cervical leaks and 2 pulmonary problems. As late complications, there were 4 redundancies, 3 gastrocolic refluxes, 2 cervical anastomotic stenoses, and 1 each intestinal obstruction due to adhesions, cologastric stricture, cosmetic deformity of the thorax, and bulging of the neck. Six patients with complications required secondary surgery. There were 4 deaths, 2 of them unrelated to the surgery. Cervical leakage, which was the most commonly observed problem, healed well. We believe the colon is still one of the best substitutes for the esophagus and that there is no need to perform a routine pyloroplasty or antireflux procedure as an adjunct to the primary surgery.