Reconstructing new oesophagus tissue in a critically ill patient

Writing in The Lancet, US doctors report the first case of a human patient whose severely damaged oesophagus was reconstructed using commercially available FDA approved stents and skin tissue.

Seven years after the reconstruction and 4 years after the stents were removed, the patient continues to eat a normal diet and maintain his weight with no swallowing problems.

Until now, this regeneration technique has only been tested in animals. The authors, reporting on the outcome of the procedure, say that research, including animal studies and clinical trials, are now needed to investigate whether the technique can be reproduced and used in other similar cases.

The oesophagus is a hollow muscular tube that connects the mouth to the stomach carrying food and liquids. Removal of the oesophagus (oesophagectomy) to treat cancer or injury requires reconnecting the remaining part of the oesophagus to the stomach to allow swallowing and the passage of food. Part of the stomach or colon is used to make this connection.