Objective

To analyze the results of esophagocoloplasty including biopsy of mucous membrane specimens at various terms after surgery.

Material and methods

There were 82 patients aged 19—68 years after esophagocoloplasty for benign esophageal diseases. The outcomes of esophagocoloplasty were assessed in 1, 3, 6 months after surgery and later once a year. The survey included physical examination, laboratory tests, fluoroscopy and endoscopy of the artificial esophagus with mucosal biopsy and morphological examination.

Results

Oral ingestion was restored in all cases. Within one year after surgery, asthenia occurred in 68 patients, stenosis of proximal anastomosis — in 27 patients, dumping syndrome — in 4 cases. Deformation and atony of artificial esophagus were revealed in one year after the operation. It was noted that esophagocoloplasty is followed by certain changes in mucous membrane and configuration of the artificial esophagus in the long-term postoperative period. Probably, this is due to the changing environment of the transplant. The main pathologic phenomena of an artificial esophagus formed from the colon were epithelial dystrophy and hypersecretion, goblet cells hyperplasia, lymphoplasmacytic infiltration of stroma, fibrotic changes in the mucous membrane of the graft. Deformation of the artificial esophagus results progression of dystrophic-atrophic and sclerotic changes in the mucous membrane of the colonic graft.

Conclusion

Postoperative follow-up with the assessment of the artificial esophagus function is required after esophagocoloplasty.