Abstract

Abstract Conduit necrosis following colon interposition for esophageal replacement is a devastating complication with a high morbidity and mortality rates. Survivors often face a challenging journey of complex reconstructive procedures. A multi-disciplinary approach is paramount to tailor the management according to the patient's anatomy, nutritional and psychological status, conduit alternatives and routes. This case report provides a series of novel reconstructive techniques, each of which could be helpful for esophageal surgeons facing such difficult situation. A 36 years old female, with a history of corrosive ingestion at the age of 5 years, who was subjected to series of regular dilatation since then, presented with a tight stricture not passing a wire. She underwent a subcutaneous isoperistaltic left colon interposition. The postoperative course was complicated with necrosis of the cervical part of the graft with infection of the subcutaneous tunnel. Resection was done with esophagostomy and colostomy in the neck. The patient survived the acute stage, feeding was established through the colostomy opening in the neck. Delayed reconstruction was planned 6 months later. The skin between the two openings in the neck was considered posterior wall of the conduit, and transaxillary pedicled thoracodorsal artery perforator flap (TDAP) was used to reconstruct the anterior wall (1,2). Partial flap loss occurred (3). Debridment and gastrostomy were done. The result was two gaps on both ends of the flap (3). The food regurgitated upwards from the gastrostomy. An antireflux stent was placed inside the flap to bridge the defects and allow oral intake (4). The TDAP-colon side was closed using a local flap from TDAP and skin graft (5,6). The esophageal side was closed primary and covered by a supraclavicular flap (7-12). Management of graft failure should focus on controlling sepsis and nutrition. Attempts should be made to preserve any surviving part of the conduit as long as it doesn’t add to sepsis. A combination of Myocutaneous flaps could be used to replace the cervical part of the conduit as TDAP and supraclavicular flaps. Stent could be used successfully to bridge a failure in a skin flap. Finally, a dedicated team is paramount for a successful outcome.

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