Benefit from omentopexy on bronchial wound healing in performing concurrent esophagectomy

The healing process of bronchial wound was compared among wrapping tissues such as pedicled omentum, pericardium, and parietal pleura in terms of the degrees of revascularization of the bronchial artery interrupted by bronchoplasty itself by microangiography, including the circumstances of performing a procedure of esophagectomy. The development of neovascularity was marked and facilitated by omentopexy. The procedure of wrapping by pedicled pericardium and pleura was not so useful for promoting neovascularity as would be expected, and it was almost the same as non-wrapping one. Meanwhile, recanalization by wrapping with free pleura was delayed. When esophagectomy was combined with bronchoplasty, revascularization was apparently retarded. In conclusion, wound healing at bronchial anastomosis was markedly impaired so that omentopexy was recommended for facilitating wound healing at anastomosis.