Evaluating the donor site after harvest of free jejunum grafts

Background. Free jejunal grafts are commonly used for reconstruction after surgery for hypopharyngeal and cervical esophageal cancer. However, few reports have addressed postoperative morbidity at the abdominal donor site. Methods. Preoperative morbidity and postoperative complications were analyzed in 126 patients in whom free jejunal grafts had been harvested from 1992 through 1996. Results. Although 27 patients had previously undergone abdominal surgery, there was no correlation between previous abdominal surgery and abdominal complications after graft harvest (p > .25). Abdominal complications were not correlated with patient age (p > .25). Conclusions. Our findings suggest that previous abdominal surgery (except on the ileum) and patient age are not contraindications to free jejunal graft harvest.