[Gastric esophagoplasty in the treatment of cancer of the esophagus].

Between March 1982 and December 1987, 112 patients with oesophageal cancer were treated by gastroplasty following oesophagectomy to restore gastrointestinal continuity. This technique was used in all oesophageal cancers regardless of their site, with the exception of paryngo-oesophageal and oesophago-cardio-fundal cancers. The overall mortality of 12.5% fell to below 6% during the last two years. The postoperative course was straightforward in 54.5% of cases. The most frequent complications were respiratory tract complications (19 cases of ARDS out of 112 patients, i.e. 17%) and fistulae at the oesophago-gastric anastomosis (9 cases out of 112, i.e. 8%). The secondary complications were dominated by anastomotic stenoses (19/98, i.e. 19.3%).