title: [Preoperative colonoscopy before esophagectomy and reconstruction with gastric interposition].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The standard treatment of esophageal carcinoma is esophagectomy and reconstruction with gastric interposition. In many centers, preoperative colonoscopy is routinely performed in order to exclude any significant colonic pathology. This is important in case of the intraoperative necessity to use a colon interposition due to gastric pathology, anatomical variation, or injury of gastric vascularization.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred twenty-eight consecutive patients with esophageal carcinoma (adenocarcinoma 102, squamous cell carcinoma 126) who underwent esophagectomy were included in this study. Of them, 171 (75%) had preoperative colonoscopy. Reconstruction was done by gastric tube in 219 and colon interposition in nine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intraoperative conversion to colon interposition was necessary in none of the 219 patients with intended reconstruction by a gastric conduit. In two of 171 patients (1.2%), preoperative colonoscopy revealed pT1 adenocarcinomas of the colon which were completely removed by endoscopy, and a total of 62 adenomas were histopathologically diagnosed. Fifty-three patients (31%) had endoscopic evidence of asymptomatic diverticulosis. No complications were observed after colonoscopy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preoperative colonoscopy prior to esophagectomy and intended gastric tube formation appears unnecessary from the surgical point of view, as intraoperative conversion to a colon interposition is rare. The rate of colon adenomas or carcinomas was not increased in patients with adeno- or squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus than in an age-matched, normal population.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Visceral- und Gefässchirurgie, Universität zu Köln, Köln.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Leers
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schröder
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vivaldi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gutschow
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schäfer
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Hölscher
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000236:Adenoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery*; D003106:Colon / Q000637:transplantation*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003113:Colonoscopy; D043963:Diverticulosis, Colonic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016629:Esophagectomy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012086:Reoperation; D013270:Stomach / Q000601:surgery*; D019738:Surgically-Created Structures