• M Murakami, A Sugiyama, T Ikegami, H Aruga, K Matsushita, K Ishida, F Maruta, T Ikeno, F Shimizu, and S Kawasaki.
• First Department of Surgery, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan.
• Am. J. Surg. 1999 Sep 1; 178 (3): 263-6.

BackgroundMaintaining sufficient blood flow to the substitute organ after total esophagectomy is essential for decreasing the risk of anastomotic leakage. Additional venous, or arterial and venous, anastomoses between the vessels of the gastric tube and the vessels in the neck after total esophagectomy are described for 11 patients with cervical esophageal carcinoma.MethodsThe tissue blood flow was measured by laser Doppler flowmetry before and after anastomosis. Venous anastomosis was performed for all 11 patients, and arterial anastomosis was added for 7 patients.ResultsA significant increase in tissue blood flow was observed after venous anastomosis alone (mean, 19%; P < 0.05) and after arterial and venous anastomoses (mean 43%; P < 0.01). There was no anastomotic leakage or hospital death.ConclusionsThis procedure may reduce the risk of anastomotic leakage especially in the case of pharyngogastrostomy following total esophagectomy.

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