Blunt esophagectomy and gastric interposition for tumors of the cervical esophagus and hypopharynx

Between April 1982 and June 1984, 17 patients underwent blunt esophagectomy and gastric interposition for squamous carcinoma of the cervical esophagus or hypopharynx. There was one operative death; no bleeding complications required thoracotomy or re-exploration. In two patients, a previously unknown carcinoma of the resected esophagus was discovered at the time of surgery. Blunt esophagectomy with gastric interposition is a safe technique for cervical esophageal reconstruction, as it has the added benefit of removing the entire esophagus, which has a propensity for later or synchronous carcinoma in patients with head and neck malignancies.