Double Vascular Pedicled Free Jejunum Transfer for Total Esophageal Reconstruction

ABSTRACT

A double vascular pedicled free jejunum was transferred in two patients with complete esophageal defect. When the stomach and colon, which are usually employed for esophageal reconstruction, cannot be used due to previous operations or for other reasons, the jejunum is the next alternative. However, pedicled jejunal transposition is limited in length and may not reach a suitable level over the lower cervical esophagus, even if the distal portion is supercharged. Under such circumstances, a long jejunal segment with two vascular pedicles can be transferred as a free flap and used to reconstruct the whole esophagus in one stage. The paper describes two cases and discusses the advantages of double vascular pedicled free jejunum transfer.

KEYWORDS

Dual pedicle - free jejunal flap - esophageal reconstruction

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