REFLUX AFTER ESOPHAGECTOMY AND INTERPOSITION OF RIGHT COLON

Objective: To determine the nature of reflux after esophagectomy and i nterposition of right colon. Design: A case series. Setting: A univers ity hospital. Patients: Five patients (mean age 43 years) in whom righ t colon had been interposed after total esophagectomy. Interventions: Endoscopy and biopsy, manometry, 24-hour ambulatory pH testing.Main Ou tcome Measures: Endoscopic and histologic appearances of the colon, ty pe of motor activity in the grafted colon and the type of reflux. Resu lts: In all patients the grafted colon was macroscopically and microsc opically normal. There was nonperistaltic motor activity in the interp osed colon in two patients. All patients had an abnormal pattern of al kaline reflux, and one patient had abnormal acid reflux. Conclusions: The clinical effect of alkaline reflux in patients with colonic interp osition after total esophagectomy may be slight. Histologic and gross changes are likely to be minimal.