BACKGROUND: Evaluation of esophageal gastric derivation with isoperistaltic gastric tube in advanced esophageal cancer. METHOD: Twenty-four patients presenting esophageal squamous cell carcinoma classified as stage III (66.66%) and IV (33.34%), were submitted to an esophagus gastric derivation through the construction of an isoperistaltic gastric tube of the large flexure, using the Postlethwait's technique. RESULTS: Patients with a mean age of 41.8 years and lymphocytes above 1,500/mm³, showed less postoperative disorders than those with a mean age of 54.09 years. Anastomotic fistula, although considered normal in 15 cases (62.50%), presented a benign evolution and spontaneously healed in 14 cases. No postoperative complications were observed in 5 cases (20.83%) and mean surgical time was 285.77 minutes. Survival rate was 4.19 months. CONCLUSIONS: In spite of high morbidity and mortality rates the isoperistaltic tube is a surgical procedure that must be suggested to well selected cases, specially those with a great rate of lymphocytes, low mean age and in cases where anastomosis fistula has a benign evolution.
Esophageal neoplasia; Isoperistaltic gastric tube; Palliative treatment
