Extensive abdominal surgery after caustic ingestion

OBJECTIVE

To report the authors' experience in extensive abdominal surgery after caustic ingestion, and to clarify its indications.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA

After caustic ingestion, extension of corrosive injuries beyond the esophagus and stomach to the duodenum, jejunum, or adjacent abdominal organs is an uncommon but severe complication. The limit to which resection of the damaged organs can be reasonably performed is not clearly defined.

METHODS

From 1988 to 1997, nine patients underwent esophagogastrectomy extended to the colon (n = 2), the small bowel (n = 2), the duodenopancreas (n = 4), the tail of the pancreas (n = 1), or the spleen (n = 1). Outcome was evaluated in terms of complications, death, and function after esophageal reconstruction.

RESULTS

Five patients required reintervention in the postoperative period for extension of the caustic lesions. There were two postoperative deaths. Seven patients had secondary esophageal reconstruction 4 to 8 months (median 6 months) after initial resection. Three additional patients died 8, 24, and 32 months after the initial resection. Three survivors eat normally, and one has unexplained dysphagia.

CONCLUSIONS

An aggressive surgical approach allows successful initial treatment of extended caustic injuries. Early surgical treatment is essential to improve the prognosis in these patients.

Mediastinoscopy vs thoracoscopy for mediastinal biopsy. Results of a prospective nonrandomized study

OBJECTIVE

To assess the results and the morbidity of thoracoscopy compared with conventional mediastinoscopy for the approach of mediastinal solid masses and lymph nodes, we have performed a prospective study about the respective yields, complication rates, and the length of hospital stay for patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We have included 114 patients in the study. The criteria of inclusion were the accessibility of the lymph nodes and/or mass to cervical mediastinoscopy through CT scan view. There were 2 groups: 52 patients underwent a mediastinoscopy (group M) and 62 underwent a thoracoscopy (group T).

RESULTS

There were 3 failures in group M (5.7%) and 5 failures in group T (8.1%) (not significant; NS). In group M, the three procedures were converted to anterior mediastinotomy (two cases) and to thoracoscopy (one case). In group T, the five procedures were converted to anterior mediastinotomy (two cases), mediastinoscopy (two cases), and thoracotomy (one case). The diagnostic yield was 94.3% in group M and 91.9% in group T (NS). After conversion, a diagnosis was reached in all patients in group M (100%) and in all but 1 patient in group T (98.3%) (NS). There was no intraoperative complication in group M, while 2 complications occurred in group T (3.2%) (p < 0.05). The overall morbidity was zero in group M and 4.8% in group T (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The diagnostic yield of mediastinoscopy is comparable to thoracoscopy. Complication rate and hospital stay of patients undergoing mediastinoscopy are significantly inferior. Thoracoscopy should be indicated only for lesions that are not within the reach of the mediastinoscope or when multiple biopsy specimens are necessary.

The thoracoscope as diagnostic tool for solid mediastinal masses

BACKGROUND

Despite the accuracy of percutaneous biopsy of mediastinal masses under CT scan or sonographic control, there is still a need for surgical biopsy because of difficult location or because of insufficiency of the percutaneous biopsy, especially for those tumors requiring an immunological classification.

METHODS

The thoracoscopic approach to mediastinal masses is an alternative to the usual surgical biopsies performed through thoracotomy, sternotomy, or anterior mediastinotomy. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia and one-lung ventilation.

RESULTS

In a series of 47 cases, a histological diagnosis was obtained in 44 cases (93.6%). There was one hemorrhagic complication requiring thoracotomy (2.1%). The mean postoperative duration of stay was 3.2 days.

CONCLUSIONS

Thoracoscopy is the method of choice in case of failure or contraindication of percutaneous biopsy. There is still a role for mediastinoscopy in treating paratracheal lymph nodes.

Can the morbidity of esophagectomy be reduced by the thoracoscopic approach?

Esophagectomies have a high morbidity rate, mainly related to pulmonary complications. The aim of this work was to assess whether the thoracoscopic approach could reduce this morbidity. We have made a prospective study of the results of 29 attempts of esophagectomy using a right thoracoscopic approach. There were 20 males and 9 females having an average age of 47. The indication was a squamous cell carcinoma in 22 patients, an adenocarcinoma in 1 patient, a melanoma in 1 patient, and a caustic stenosis in 5. The whole esophagus was mobilized thoracoscopically and the esophagectomy was completed through the abdomen. The reconstruction was achieved using a gastric pull-through and a cervical anastomosis. There were five failures for the following reasons: unresectable carcinoma (one case), large tumor making a thoracoscopic dissection unsafe (two cases), and incomplete lung collapse making the exposure of the posterior mediastinum difficult (two cases). The average time of the thoracoscopic procedure was 135 min. The postoperative course was uneventful in all but five patients who had a pulmonary complication: atelectasis (three cases), right purulent pleural effusion (one case), acute respiratory disease syndrome (one case). The latter complication was lethal. Four out of five respiratory complications occurred in patients for whom the dissection was considered difficult. Among the other complications, there were five anastomotic leakages and three cases of laryngeal nerve palsy. The mortality rate was 3.8%. These initial results do not show a real benefit of the thoracoscopic approach for esophageal dissection, especially with respect to difficult esophagectomies. Further evaluation of the technique is needed.

[Thoracoscopic approach of pericardial effusion]

We report the technique of pericardial approach through the thoracoscope. This approach has several advantages. Extensive pericardial fenestration can be performed as well as pericardoscopy whenever indicated and additional biopsies such as mediastinal or lung parenchyma biopsies. Among the 12 patients operated on, the procedure was possible in all but one case. When there is no contraindication to selective tracheal intubation or lateral positioning, the thoracoscopic approach is the method of choice. In other cases, the subxiphoid approach remains indicated.

Thoracoscopic dissection of the esophagus: an experimental study

In order to reduce the respiratory morbidity of thoracotomy in esophageal surgery, several methods have been used, such as blunt dissection and endoscopic dissection through mediastinoscopy. It seems that the latter reduces drastically the morbidity but does not allow full visualization of the esophageal wall, a disadvantage in some circumstances. We describe a thoracoscopic dissection of the esophagus which gives a large and magnified view of the pleural cavity, of the mediastinum, and of the esophagus.

The hook-wire technique for localization of pulmonary nodules during thoracoscopic resection

The main problem related to the thoracoscopic resection of lung nodules is the difficulty in locating the target nodule. Among the several methods proposed, one of the most efficient is the preoperative placement of a localization wire into the nodule while it is under computed tomography scan control. After our initial series of 22 thoracoscopic resections of lung nodules without preoperative localization, we have used the hook-wire technique in 21 patients. In our initial series, we had four failures while we have had only one in the hook-wire series. Only two minor complications related to the wire localization technique occurred: a poorly tolerated pneumothorax and an intrapulmonary hemorrhage. There was no postoperative complication. The mean duration of postoperative stay was 1 to 6 days. We conclude that the preoperative localization of lung nodules using a hook wire is a safe and accurate method before thoracoscopic resection in selected patients.

Thoracoscopic ultrasonic localisation of lung nodules: initial results of an in-vitro and in-vivo study

The main problem in thoracoscopic resection of lung nodules is the difficulty in localising the target. In the following we describe the use of an ultrasonographic, deflectable linear array probe of 7.5 MHz which was first tested during an in-vitro study. This study has provided useful information with respect to the US inspection of normal parenchyma and lung nodules. Initial results in clinical use in 14 patients demonstrate some limitations linked to the difficulty in manoeuvering the probe and to the remaining air in the parenchyma. However, endoscopic US is an interesting additional tool during thoracoscopic exploration of the lung.

Decreased mesenteric blood flow supplying retrosternal esophageal ileocoloplastic grafts during positive-pressure breathing

Esophageal replacement after esophagogastric injury caused by ingestion of lye may require the interposition of a retrosternal ileocolic graft. In this new anatomic situation, the mesenteric circulation supplying the graft is subjected to the intrathoracic pressure surrounding the graft. Thus, mesenteric blood flow supplying the graft may be impaired when intrathoracic pressure is increased during mechanical ventilation. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of increasing intrathoracic pressure by application of a positive end-expiratory pressure on mesenteric blood flow supplying esophageal ileocolic grafts. Eight cases were studied in the immediate postoperative period. Miniaturized implantable Doppler microprobes were sutured to the single artery supplying the graft and connected to an 8 MHz pulsed Doppler flowmeter. Two sets of measurements were successively performed with zero end-expiratory pressure ventilation and after application of a 15 cm water positive end-expiratory pressure. Positive end-expiratory pressure induces mean arterial pressure (-12%); p < 0.05) and cardiac output (-17%; p < 0.05) decrease. Mesenteric blood flow also decreases (-38%; p < 0.05) as did the mesenteric blood flow/cardiac output ratio, suggesting a potential mesenteric vasoconstriction assessed by mesenteric vascular resistance increase and mesenteric diastolic blood flow velocity decrease. These results suggest that, in the particular anatomic situation of the graft, increased intrathoracic pressure induces mesenteric blood flow decrease in relation to systemic hemodynamic alterations associated with perivisceral pressure increase. This change may be deleterious to graft perfusion.

Thoracoscopic esophagectomy: technique and initial results

To reduce the high morbidity rate associated with esophageal surgery, we have developed a technique of thoracoscopic esophagectomy. A feasibility study was first carried out in an animal model and a specific instrument was developed for this purpose. Esophagectomy using a right thoracoscopic approach was attempted in 15 patients, 13 males and 2 females whose average age was 48 years. Indications consisted of squamous cell carcinoma in 10 patients, adenocarcinoma in 1, and caustic stenosis in 4. We used a technique that consisted of double-lumen tracheal intubation and the creation of five ports. The whole esophagus was mobilized thoracoscopically and the esophagectomy was completed through the abdomen. The reconstruction was achieved using a gastric pull-through, and the anastomosis was made in the neck. There were three failures: in 1 patient there was a large tumor, making the exposure unsafe, and, in 2 patients, incomplete lung collapse made exposure of the posterior mediastinum difficult. These 3 cases were converted into a thoracotomy. The thoracoscopic dissection was successful in the remaining 12 patients. The average time of the thoracoscopic stage was 125 minutes. The postoperative course was uneventful in 10 patients. Two patients had a left atelectasis. Although our series is limited, these initial results indicate that thoracoscopic esophagectomy is feasible. However, further evaluation of the technique is needed to assess its benefit in terms of respiratory morbidity.

Splenectomy in human immunodeficiency virus-related thrombocytopenia

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of splenectomy in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related thrombocytopenia, 30 HIV-infected patients with thrombocytopenia (platelet count < 50 x 10(9)/l) who underwent splenectomy were followed prospectively for a mean period of 42 months. There were no perioperative deaths and morbidity was minimal. Twenty-one patients had a persistent complete response, six had a partial response and were asymptomatic after splenectomy, and only three showed no response. Three patients developed acquired immune deficiency syndrome during follow-up, an incidence that was no different from that expected. Splenectomy is a safe and effective treatment in HIV-infected patients with severe symptomatic thrombocytopenic purpura resistant to medical therapy.

Technical aspects of endoscopic removal of benign tumors of the esophagus

We describe the technique of thoracoscopic removal of benign tumors of the esophagus. The technical problems of this new approach are described in the context of our initial experience of four cases.

Laparoscopic splenectomy: initial laboratory experience

An experimental study was conducted in an animal model to test the feasibility of laparoscopic splenectomy. Twelve pigs were operated on. The splenectomy was feasible in 10 cases. However, a splenic injury occurred in five cases and the average blood loss was 80 ccm. We concluded that laparoscopy is feasible in an experimental model but is not a safe and easy procedure. Clinical applications should probably be limited to selected cases.

Usefulness of perioperative pulsed Doppler flowmetry in predicting postoperative local ischemic complications after ileocolic esophagoplasty

Regional ischemia may induce cervical anastomosis leakage or stenosis or graft necrosis after esophageal reconstruction by retrosternal interposition of an ileocolic graft. These complications may be related to systemic or local hemodynamic alterations. This study was designed to evaluate the relationship between immediate postoperative arterial blood supply to the graft, arterial patency monitored by angiography, and clinical outcome. Eight patients (mean age 30 +/- 4 years; standard deviation) were studied. Miniaturized Doppler implantable microprobes were sutured to the single artery supplying the graft and connected to an 8 MHz pulsed Doppler flowmeter. Systemic hemodynamic parameters and mesenteric hemodynamic data were collected 3 hours after the end of the surgical procedure. These data were compared with the angiogram of the right superior colic artery supplying the graft, systematically performed on the fifteenth postoperative day, and with the clinical course of follow-up for 3 months. Five patients (group 1) had excellent clinical and angiographic results. Mean mesenteric blood flow in these patients was 51 +/- 49 ml.min-1 (+/- standard deviation, ranging from 9 to 122). Three patients (group 2) had a poor clinical outcome. One had early complete graft necrosis and the two others had leakage of the cervical anastomosis with poor distal arterial vascularization of the graft on the angiogram. Mean mesenteric blood flow was nul in the first patient and, respectively, 24 and 28 ml.min-1 in the two others. Cardiac output and mean arterial pressure were in the same range for all patients. Phasic velocity shape analysis revealed that the three group 2 patients had an end-systolic or end-diastolic reverse flow pattern that was not observed in the five group 1 patients, which suggested a submaximal increase in downstream vascular resistance. This reverse flow pattern seems to be a good predictor of ischemia-related complications. We conclude that perioperative pulsed Doppler blood flow monitoring in an ileocolic graft may be useful for the diagnosis and prevention of ischemic complications.

Tracheobronchial necrosis after caustic ingestion

Between 1968 and 1988, 679 patients were hospitalized for ingestion of caustic substances, and 87 had severe caustic burns of the entire esophagus, together with panparietal necrosis. Twenty-one of them had tracheobronchial necrosis with perforation. Fifteen have not been operated on; six have had operations, with success in four. We describe an original technique for repairing these tracheobronchial perforations with a pulmonary patch.

[Retrosternal coloplasties: contribution of postoperative mesenteric arteriography]

Postoperative mesenteric angiograms were obtained after substernal coloplasty (SC) in fifteen patients, 8 male and 7 female, aged from 18 to 61 yrs old (mean = 34 yrs old). The aim of this study was to determine whether: 1) vascularization as assessed by angiography was correlated with the occurrence of cervical complications (fistulae and/or stenosis), 2) postoperative arteriography was of any practical value in this situation. Images obtained were classified into 3 groups according to the quality of vascular visualization. Clinical results were also classified into 3 groups according to whether no, one or two cervical complications were present, respectively. Angiographic and clinical results were concordant in 8 cases and discordant in 7. No definite relationship between the quality of coloplasty vascularization and the quality of clinical outcome was found in this study, but results suggest that retromanubrium compression might play a major role in outcome as visualization of colonic vascularization was obtained in only 9 of 15 cases. When clinical results are poor, characteristic images of ischemia may help in determining the indication for reoperation.

Management of severe caustic stenosis of the hypopharynx and esophagus by ileocolic transposition via suprahyoid or transepiglottic approach. Analysis of 18 cases

Eighteen cases of severe chronic caustic stenosis of the hypopharynx and esophagus are presented. Restoration of digestive continuity was accomplished by retrosternal ileocolic transposition. The cervical approach and the position of anastomosis depended on the status of the hypopharynx. When one pyriform sinus remained open (type I, N = 4), an anterior suprahyoid approach was used in conjunction with lateral hypopharyngotomy because it facilitated the anastomosis and additional minor surgical procedures. When the hypopharynx was completely stenosed (type II, N = 14), a transepiglottic approach consisting of partial horizontal laryngectomy was used because it allowed excision of the supraglottic stricture, restoration of the oropharyngeal cavity, anastomosis to the posterior oropharyngeal wall, management of an eventual laryngotracheal stenosis, and elevation of the laryngeal inlet above the digestive anastomosis. After operation, several endoscopic examinations were required, sometimes combined with reoperation. Return of deglutition assuring normal nutrition was obtained in 61% of patients: 3 of 4 type I and in 8 of 14 type II.

[Volvulus of a mobile spleen. Apropos of a case diagnosed in the preoperative period by ultrasonography]

A case of splenic volvulus, a rare complication of a rare malformation, mobile spleen, is reported, only 150 similar cases being documented in the literature. The diagnosis can be suspected preoperatively by ultrasound imaging. Different etiologies of this lesion are discussed and the various complementary examinations allowing preoperative diagnosis described.

Early blunt esophagectomy in severe caustic burns of the upper digestive tract. Report of 29 cases

Caustic ingestion may cause severe necrosis of the upper digestive tract. Of 520 patients admitted in our department for caustic ingestion, 29 (5.5%) underwent emergency esophagogastrectomy because of transmural necrosis. We used a stripping procedure, which was performed through a cervicotomy and a laparotomy. This method allowed 18 patients (62%) to survive. Thus it appears to be a safer technique than open thoracic esophagectomy, which we used in our earlier experience.

[Morbidity factors in Nissen's procedure]

Between 1975 and 1986, 96 adult patients were operated upon for gastro-esophageal reflux using the abdominal approach to Nissen's operation, eight of these patients having undergone previous surgery to treat reflux. Diagnosis in 44 patients was stage III esophagitis, and in 16, symptomatic peptic stenosis. Mortality was 0.9% (1 case) and morbidity 14%. Morbidity was not increased in previously operated patients. Based on these results and a literature review, different technical factors are discussed that could reduce morbidity of Nissen's operation.

Management of caustic ingestion in adults

The treatment of 484 adults with caustic ingestion injury is discussed. Signs and symptoms are an unreliable guide to injury and a chest X-ray and fibreoptic endoscopy should be performed as soon as possible. All of the 250 patients who developed superficial lesions of the oesophagus, stomach or duodenum experienced healing without sequelae. Forty-four patients required emergency surgery of whom twenty-four died and oesophagectomy without thoracotomy is now advocated for this group, followed by interval surgery to restore continuity. The remaining 190 patients suffered gastric or oesophageal ulceration without necrosis: 92 recovered without complication, 3 succumbed to aorto-oesophageal fistula, 12 survived following delayed surgery for complications and 83 developed oesophageal and/or gastric stenosis which subsequently required endoscopic or surgical treatment.

[Gastropericardial fistula. Late complication of the treatment of hiatal hernia]

An exceptional case of gastropericardial fistula is reported, the lesion developing from a gastric ulcer on an antireflux valve instituted ten years previously. A literature review showed 31 similar cases: 14 gastropericardial fistulae, 16 esophagopericardial fistulae and one jejunopericardial fistula. Three features common to all these fistulae were determined: the frequency of hiatus hernia in the genesis of these lesions, either from an ulcer on esophagitis or herniated stomach or from surgical complication; the extremely high mortality of these fistulae (68% mortality); the need for aggressive treatment.

[Perforations of the thoracic esophagus. Apropos of 14 surgical cases]

The authors report the datas of 14 patients with perforation of the esophagus who underwent surgical treatments. Three patients died (21%). Various technics have been used, but a new personal one consisting in stappling the cervical esophagus--and sometimes the lower end in the chest-is brought forward. The last six patients who underwent this technic healed. Five out five have got a spontaneous repermeation of the esophagus. The sixth healed after fiberendoscopic dilatation.

[Intramural cyst of the esophagus. Apropos of a surgical case]

Surgical excision of a benign cyst of esophagus was justified by the presence of dysphagia, totally relieved by the operation. Esophageal cysts are exceptional findings, their histology often resembling that of bronchogenic cysts as in the case reported.

[Fibrovascular polyp of the esophagus]

A case of large intraluminal tumour located in the cervical portion of the oesophagus and removed by thoracotomy is presented. Detailed histological study was necessary, since hypervascularization and hypercellularity made it difficult to diagnose a fibrovascular polyp and to establish its histopathological prognosis. The patient has now been followed up for 7 years and remains cured. Intraluminal tumours are reviewed. Whether fibrovascular polyps should be removed surgically or endoscopically depends on their site and on their size.

[Retrosternal esophagoplasties by gastric upturn. Functional value]

The functional results in 13 cases of retrosternal oesophagoplasty by gastric upturn were compared with those obtained in 20 retrosternal oesophagoplasties by interposed colon and with published data concerning intrathoracic isoperistaltic reconstructions. Nine patients were examined by radiocinematography and 6 by radioisotope scanning to evaluate the speed of passage through the neo-oesophagus and the quality of gastric emptying. It appeared that gastric emptying took place within normal delays. Signs of reflux were observed in 9 of the 13 patients, but the problem did not seem to be worse than with isoperistaltic reconstructions.

[Uni- or bipolar temporary exclusion of the esophagus by stapling. A simple technic, not damaging to the esophagus]

Many surgical procedures have been put forward to treat perforations of the thoracic oesophagus seen late. The authors propose a simple stapling technique which can be applied in the cervical segment or below the lesion if required, and report the results obtained in 4 cases. The spontaneously reversible temporary derivation obtained ensures better healing of the lesion and avoids the need for subsequent reconstructive surgery.

Blunt thorax oesophageal stripping: an emergency procedure for caustic ingestion

We report our experience with an original procedure which we have applied to the management of acute necrotic caustic burns of the upper gastro-intestinal tract. Blunt thorax oesophageal stripping is performed through a cervicotomy and a laparotomy, thus avoiding a wide pleural exposure and the frequent and often fatal respiratory complications of a thoracotomy. The stripping method permitted survival of 13 of 17 patients and is thus considered to be a safer and more successful technique than open thoracic oesophagectomy.

Serotonin-secreting and insulin-secreting ileal carcinoid tumor and the use of in vitro culture of tumoral cells

The authors report the case of a patient with a typical carcinoid syndrome and a severe hypoglycemia due to hyperinsulinism. He was found to have an ileal carcinoid tumor with hepatic metastasis and no evidence of pancreatic insulinoma at surgery and autopsy. By assaying serotonin and insulin in the tumor and in the supernatants of the culture derived from hepatic metastasis, the authors have been able to show that both hormones were produced by the carcinoid tissue. Cultured cells also synthesized minute amounts of gastrin and thyrocalcitonin.

[Severe tracheobronchial complications of the ingestion of caustics in adults. A case of perforation healed with a pulmonary patch]

Since 1969, in a study of 100 patients hospitalized for severe caustic ingestion meeding intensive surgery, the authors have found 9 cases of critical tracheo-bronchic burns characterized by necrotic lesions. Those lesions constitute a severe complication (6 deaths amongst 9 patients) thus the obsolute necessity of precocius and repeated tracheobronchic fiber endoscopies. In case of an ulcerating or pre-splitting aspect appearing in localised necrotic lesions, the authors preconise in emergency a tracheobronchic plasty using a lung patch. Other treatments are discussed.

[Palliative retrosternal reconstruction in cancer of the esophagus]

Among patients presenting with a cancer of the esophagus, only a third will have a theoretical radical resection. Out of our management: 1 - By pass with operatory abdominal and cervical check up--2 - Chemotherapy--3 - Total esophageal resection by thoracotomy, 29 patients get through the first stage only, which is then considered as a palliation method. Results obtained about the degree of palliation, i.e. quality of life, pathologic incidences, mortality rates are compared with other methods.

[Total villous atrophy, mesenteric lymph-node cavitation, splenic atrophy. An unusual form of celiac disease in adults, apropos of a new case]

The authors report a new case concerning the syndrome "total villous atrophy, mesenteric lymph-node cavity formation and splenic atrophy" in a 41 year old woman. This pathologic association is characterized by: a) a clinical and biological malabsorption syndrome; b) proximal small bowel alterations as observed in coeliac disease, with, especially subtotal or total villous atrophy, abnormal enterocytic epithelium, hyperplastic crypts and lymph-plasmacytic infiltrate in the lamina propria; c) lymph node mesenteric cavity formation with an heterogeneous necrotic, sometimes liquefied, substance, without germ or parasite. Rare cortical lymphoid follicles are still persistent; 3) a splenic atrophy. A temporary improvement with gluten-diet (G.F.D.) was followed by a one-year period of total resistance. A treatment including corticotherapy was then successful and since the 14 past months her health remained satisfactory. Clinical, pathological data and the evolution about this patient are compared with those of the six published cases. The aetiology of this syndrome only observed in adults at the present time is unknown; the fact that patient's child presents with a coeliac disease, allows to authenticate, for the first time, this syndrome as a special form of adult coeliac disease.

[Massive retroperitoneal hematoma caused by rupture of the kidney, secondary to cortical abscess]

A massive retroperitoneal hemorrhage found to be due to a renal abscess in a previously healthy kidney was treated successfully by nephrectomy. This type of lesion occurs fairly infrequently, but it is quite exceptional to observe presenting signs as in the case reported, and recovery is not mentioned in the published literature. Therapy for renal abscess involves either urgent nephrectomy in cases of associated hemorrhagic or septic shock, or medical treatment under close supervision in the absence of major signs of severity, which may, however, develop at any moment making surgery inevitable.

[Caustic digestive stenosis involving the hypopharynx. Esophagopharyngoplasty using a right ileocolic graft]

The authors describe an oesophago-laryngoplastic technique using a retrosternal ileocolic graft and involving anterior pharyngotomy above the hyoid bone. The technique was applied to five cases of major destructive lesions of the hypopharynx with fibrotic stenosis, due to severe burns of the upper digestive tract by ingestion of caustic substances. Continuity between the oral cavity and the digestive tract was re-established in all cases.

[The reversed stomach technique of oesophagoplasty (author's transl)]

A technique of oesophagoplasty using the whole stomach is described and discussed. In this technique, the duodenum is divided and the stomach is turned-up, passed through a retrosternal tunnel and anastomosed with the cervical oesophagus. Continuity of the intra-abdominal digestive tract is restored by anastomosing the gastric fundus with the duodenum. The new technique, successfully used by the authors in 10 patients, is applicable to oesophageal carcinomas as a palliative measure or as the first stage of secondary oesophagectomy; and to oesophageal stenosis consecutive to caustic burns.