The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 25, 521-525, Copyright © 1978 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Gastric tube interpostion: a satisfactory alternative to the colon for esophageal replacement in children
KD Anderson and JG Randolph
The gastric tube was used as the primary method of esophageal
reconstruction in 15 infants and children, 9 with isolated esophageal
atresia and 6 with lye stricture. The youngest patient was 8 months old and
the oldest, 5 years old at the time of the procedure. The technique of
gastric tube construction is described. There have been both major and
minor complications but the gastric tube has proved very satisfactory as a
conduit from mouth to stomach. Growth and development have been acceptable
in all 15 children, although most remain in the lower percentiles for
growth and height, a condition that usually predates the esophageal
substitution. In our institution the gastric tube is the preferred method
of esophageal substitution.
