Use of Gastric Tube in Esophageal Replacement

Gastric tube replacement is one of the most common reconstruction methods used after esophageal cancer resection. In the gastric reconstruction process, the whole stomach or an isoperistaltic, anisoperistaltic, or pedunculate tube prepared from the stomach is used. Gastric tubes can be used for intrathoracic or cervical anastomoses due to the rich intramural vascular network of the stomach. It is possible to determine the vascular supply of the gastric tube with different methods of examination and pay attention to the surgical technique during the operation. The gastric tubes are used by passing through the posterior mediastinum, where the esophagus is resected. The main complications of gastric tubes are anastomotic leaks, dysphagia, and late cancer recurrence. Although anastomotic leaks are common in cervical anastomoses, they do not have high morbidity.