title: [The treatment of esophagojejunal anastomotic stricture after total gastrectomy].
abstract: From December 1983 through December 1988, 200 cases of total gastrectomy were performed in Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. The esophagojejunostomy was performed with EEA staplers in 196 cases, and with hand suture in 4 cases. Twelve cases developed anastomotic stricture after the operation. All of these 12 anastomoses were done with EEA 28 mm staplers. Four of the 12 patients received no further treatment either because the symptoms were mild or because of development of carcinomatosis. Six patients received endoscopic YAG laser treatment, only 2 had good results. Four Patients received balloon dilatation, 2 of them had good results, 4 patients received surgical intervention after failure of the balloon dilatation or YAG laser treatment. Of the 4 patients who underwent surgery, the thoracoabdominal approach was used in 3, and a thoracotomy in 1. Three patients received side to side esophagojejunostomy to bypass the stricture site. In the remaining patient, stricture was excised and a new end to end anastomosis was done with hand sutures. All of these 4 patients had good results after the operation. There are many possible mechanisms of the development of anastomotic stricture. Anastomotic leakage, technical error, lack of mucosa-to-mucosa apposition, size of the EEA stapler and tissue ischemia all have been regarded as the possible causes of anastomotic stricture. Once the esophagojejunal anastomosis stricture occurs, treatment should be done to relieve dysphagia. From the results of our patients, endoscopic YAG laser is not a satisfactory treatment for anastomotic stricture.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Jeng
authors.forename: Y Y
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Jan
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D004947:Esophagus / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007583:Jejunum / Q000601:surgery*; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D012086:Reoperation