title: Esophageal reconstruction for benign disease: a long-term appraisal.
abstract: Replacement of all or part of the esophagus, for whatever reason, requires intimate familiarity with the advantages, disadvantages, and long-term results of various techniques of reconstruction. For benign esophageal disease, because of the expected longer natural history of such lesions, long-term results should be more informative. The Mayo Clinic experience with esophageal reconstruction for benign disease is reviewed for the 15-year period of July 1955 through July 1970, critically evaluating the long-term results of from 8 to 21 years. Thirty-nine patients, with a male-to-female ratio of two to one, underwent 44 operative reconstructions. Only 41 per cent had uncomplicated postoperative courses, with a five per cent operative mortality (two patients) and a 15 per cent late related mortality. The average duration of hospitalization was three weeks. Despite the morbidity and mortality, most patients report good to excellent results, confirmed by physician assessment.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004935:Esophageal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D004944:Esophagoplasty / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology