Superdrainage Using the Cephalic Vein Due to Unsuitable Internal Thoracic Vein for Microvascular Anastomosis in Esophageal Reconstruction Using Pedicled Jejunum

The progress and popularization of microvascular surgical techniques may improve the outcomes of esophageal reconstruction using non-gastric tube (GT) grafts. A pedicled jejunum (PJ) with microvascular anastomoses is frequently selected as a reconstructed conduit for esophageal reconstruction when the GT is unavailable, and the internal thoracic (IT) vein is frequently selected as a recipient blood vessel for microvascular anastomosis. However, the IT vein may be inadequate for microvascular anastomosis because of its absence or underdevelopment. Since it is difficult to preoperatively predict such rare cases, it becomes necessary to urgently and rapidly prepare an alternative blood vessel. Herein, we present surgical procedures for superdrainage using the cephalic vein (CeV). Due the superficial nature of the CeV, it is both easy to identify and collect sufficient length. Thus, the CeV is very useful as an urgent substitute blood vessel when the IT vein is unavailable for microvascular anastomosis in esophageal reconstruction.