INTRODUCTION: Esophagocoloplasty represents a useful technique to restore the intestinal continuity after esophagogastrectomy. This technique has been used mainly after esophagogastric caustic injuries. The aim of this review is to assess the role of esophagogastrectomy with esophagocoloplasty for esophageal or gastric neoplasms.
METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed using Embase, Medline, Cochrane, and PubMed databases to identify all studies published in the previous 25 years (1991-2016) reporting cases of esophagocoloplasty after esophagogastrectomy for malignancies. The systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines.
RESULTS: The systematic review of the literature shows a morbidity rate of 57% and a mortality rate of 15% in the 93 reported cases of esophagocoloplasty performed for malignant diseases. However, R0 rate ranged from 76.1 to 85%, and 5-year survival was obtained in 11.9-32.8% of patients in the different series.
CONCLUSIONS: In highly selected cases of primary or relapsing gastric or esophageal neoplasms, esophagogastrectomy with esophagocoloplasty is a viable and useful option, which may guarantee complete tumor resection and long-term survival.