PERIPHERAL ATHERO-EMBOLISM FROM THE AORTA COMPLICATING TRANSHIATAL ESOPHAGECTOMY

The clinical courses of two patients with moderate atherosclerotic ane urysmal dilation of the upper abdominal aorta suffering significant th rombo-embolic sequelae following transhiatal esophagectomy are present ed. Inadvertent dislodgement of debris from the diseased aorta during the course of the hiatal and intrathoracic ''blunt'' dissection was fe lt to be responsible for this uncommon postoperative problem. This pot ential complication should be kept in mind when operating near the eso phageal hiatus during the course of esophagectomy in such vasculopathi c patients.