OBJECTIVETo summarize the experience of applying gastric tube esophagoplasty for complicated diseases of esophagus in children and the short-middle-term efficacy.

METHODSA retrospective and observational case series study was performed.

INCLUSION CRITERIA(1) burn length of esophagus > 2 cm, multisegmental or extensive esophageal scar stenosis, and about 6 months after burn; (2) longitudinal diameter of esophageal tumor > 2 cm, or esophagus considered as impossible to reserve;(3) Severe esophageal fistula with diameter > 2 cm, or relapse again after ≥3 times of repair; (4) Tracheal cartilaginous esophageal heterotopia with a length of >2 cm or no end to end anastomosis after removal of the esophageal lesion.

EXCLUSION CRITERIApatients with severe cardiopulmonary insufficiency, or poor prognosis of gastric primary disease; the gastric volume did not allow long enough gastric tube; the parents did not accept the surgery. According to above criteria, 36 children with complicated diseases of esophagus who underwent gastric tube esophagoplasty at Department of Thoracic Surgery, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center from March 2010 to June 2017 were enrolled into this study. Among 36 children, 27 were with corrosive strictures of esophagus, 5 with esophageal tumor, 3 with severe esophageal fistula, and 1 with tracheal cartilaginous esophageal heterotopia. Above-mentioned 27 cases with corrosive strictures of esophagus underwent gastric tube esophagoplasty via retrosternal route with preservation of the original esophagus. The other 9 cases underwent resection for esophageal lesion and gastric tube esophagoplasty via prevertebral route. The construction of gastric tube was as follows: the stomach was cut along the lesser curvature from pylorus to cardia and fundus of stomach with stapler, making the diameter of the gastric tube equal to pylorus. Operative time, intra-operative bleeding, time of mechanical ventilation, anastomotic leakage, anastomotic stricture were observed. The postoperative short-middle-term growth presentation of children was evaluated according to CDC 2000 children growth evaluation table(2 to 20 years).

RESULTSAll the 36 children survived their operations successfully. Nine cases underwent esophagectomy for lesion esophagus and the other 27 cases received preservation of original esophagus. Average time of postoperative mechanical ventilation was 8 (4-20) hours. Three cases developed anastomotic leakage and were healed after one week. Eight cases developed anastomotic stricture and resumed normal diet after balloon expansion. The patients were followed up from 6 months to 7 years. Five cases were found to have esophageal cyst 4-8 months after the operation, and received resection. One children with infantile esophageal fibrosarcoma recurred 3 weeks after the operation and died 2 weeks later because the family abandoned the treatment. The quality of life of 35 cases was improved significantly. Short-middle-term body height and weight in 85.7%(30/35) children met basically the criteria of CDC 2000 children growth evaluation table.

CONCLUSIONGastric tube esophagoplasty can effectively treat the children with complicated esophagus diseases with good short-middle-term efficacy, and is a recommended esophageal replacement surgery.