Treatment of colon conduit redundancy in a child with esophageal atresia

Abstract

We recently revised a redundant colon conduit in a boy who was born with isolated esophageal atresia. In view of the paucity of reports dealing with correction of this common complication of esophageal replacement, it seemed appropriate to report our experience. Because of effective medical therapy of acid peptic disease, patients who formerly required conduit replacement may now be candidates for revision; however, the medical literature does not specify when conduit revision, as opposed to conduit replacement, is indicated; also, no guidance is provided regarding what constitutes effective operative revision. Innovative techniques that stretch and elongate the atretic esophagus will likely lessen the use of conduits in esophageal atresia; nevertheless, colon conduits are useful in many other clinical situations and will remain an essential part of the armamentarium of pediatric, general, and thoracic surgeons. This report highlights the DeMeester and Tannuri technique, whereby a colon conduit is prepared like a Roux limb. The mesentery is divided only once; the conduit's blood supply is not severed from the distal mesocolon. This innovation improves a conduit's blood supply and lessens its attendant complications. Lastly, we describe a muscle splitting, posterolateral thoracotomy technique that is simpler than the alternatives and is useful in a variety of clinical situations.