Palliative surgical treatment of inoperable oesophageal and cardia tumours with prosthesis.

During a 12-year period, 112 palliative surgical intubations were performed for nutritional inability due to tumours causing oesophageal stricture, tumours of the cardia and of the stomach unmanageable by anastomosis, and to that of the gastric stump. Surgical complications and mortality can be considerably reduced by careful preparation and practice. Palliative intubation is suitable for making the patient's normal nutrition possible and the rest of his or her life more endurable. The intervention is recommended to replace the bypass anastomosis incurring a great risk and gastrostomy producing several objective and psychic complaints.