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Case Reports

Skin Tube Reconstruction for Esophageal Defect Due to Postoperative Complication

^a Department of Surgical Oncology, Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
^b Miyamoto Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan

Accepted for publication September 22, 2008.

^_* Address correspondence to Dr Hamai, Department of Surgical Oncology, Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan (Email: yyhamai{at}hotmail.com).

The occurrence of esophageal conduit necrosis after esophagectomy in patients with esophageal cancer is rare, but it is associated with severe and fatal complications, and the subsequent surgical reconstruction required by such patients is challenging. We reconstructed the esophagus using a skin tube prepared from a myocutaneous flap of the anterior chest wall in a patient whose entire thoracic esophagus was missing due to reconstructed conduit necrosis after surgery for esophageal cancer. Four years after skin tube reconstruction, the patient remains free of cancer recurrence with good oral intake and has resumed routine activities. Thus, the skin tube is considered very useful for salvage esophageal reconstruction.