My brother had esophageal cancer . Most of his esophagus was removed and stomach stretched up. Now he is having problems with a blockage or twist in the tube from his stomach to his intestine and is throwing up everything he eats. What can be done? The doctors are telling him that the area is being pinched from scar tissue from a hernia operation after his cancer. This hernia operation was kind of a botched operation and ended up very ill and needed a repair done after the inital hernia operation. They spoke of perhaps putting a tube from his stomach to intestine but are rethinking this as they say it will bend or break(?). Their latest solution was maybe a feeding tube and he does not want to have to resort to that. Any solutions? Thank you.
Hi, management of esophageal cancer depends on location of the tumor. Generally upper third of esophagus cancer mainly managed by chemo radiotherapy whereas lower and middle third of esophagus cancer managed by surgery followed by chemoradiation if on biopsy report surgical margin are found to be involved. From your question it is unclear whether your brother was offered post-op chemoradiation or not. If post op chemoradiation was given then chance of anastomotic dehiscence is increased. Now in case of your brother as blockage or twist in the tube from his stomach to intestine has occurred it is better to think of putting a feeding tube directly to intestine (jejunum) by operative intervention and to put the patient in close follow up. You have to consult your surgical oncologist. Take care of your brother.