Experimental evaluation of oesophageal muscular cuffs in the repair of oesophageal defects.

The current study was designed to test the value of oesophageal muscular cuffs in the repair of anastomotic defects in the thoracic oesophagus. In 30 piglets, defects involving 25%, 50% and nearly 100% of the anastomosis were created and repaired by means of a cuff derived from the oesophagus musculature. The results demonstrated that his method provides uniformly a leak-proof closure under the most severe circumstances. Oesophageal narrowing at the site of repair was common and depended on the nature of the experiment and not on the technique used. Although experimental data may not be directly transferable to human subjects, this method proved so effective that it might be the potential clinical benefit. Questionable oesophageal anastomoses and fresh oesophageal perforations are the clinical applications suggested.