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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 1998;13:200-202
© 1998 Elsevier Science NL

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Protective subpleural blanketing of intrathoracic esogastric anastomosis after esophagectomy

Unit of thoracic surgery, Clinic of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, University Hospital, CH-1211, Geneva 14, Switzerland

Received 27 May 1997; received in revised form 13 October 1997; accepted 19 November 1997.

Corresponding author. Tel.: +41 22 3727875; fax: +41 22 3727880.

Esophagectomy followed by intrathoracic anastomosis is threatened by leakage which may prove all the more serious that mediastinal contamination is extensive. In the technique presented, the esogastric anastomosis is slipped under the upper mediastinal pleura which is kept intact, after the azygos vein has been ligated and divided. This pleural `blanket' may act as an efficient barrier against potential digestive spillage into the mediastinum.

Key Words: Intrathoracic • Esogastric • Anastomosis