Operative procedure in early carcinoma of the thoracic part of the esophagus.

The authors present four patients with early carcinoma of the thoracic part of the esophagus. In all patients, "blind" esophagectomy was performed without thoractomy. Simultaneously salivary fistula on the neck and gastrostomy was formed. During the second stage of the procedure a retrosternal esophagus was formed out of pedunculated intestinal grafts. No serious postoperative complications were noted. According to the authors, the above-mentioned procedure should be limited to early cases of carcinoma of the thoracic part of the esophagus. The post-operative follow up of the cases was up to four years.