Abstract
The so-called Rehbein's method was proposed in 1971 for reconstruction of esophagus as alternative procedure of bowel substitution in congenital esophageal atresia with a long gap. We developed a new instrument in order to perform the Rehbein's method without thoracotomy. Experimental esopha-geal atresia was produced in 4 dogs. Eight weeks post-operatively a nylon thread was passed between the esophageal pouches with the instrument in-serted through the mouth and gastrostomy, thus avoiding thoracotomy. There-after the animals were successfully treated according to the Rehbein's method. Further, the instrument was successfully applied to an infant with esophageal atresia Type-A and another infant with esophageal stricture. The recon-structed esophagus was functionally satisfactory in all of them. A short gap between esophageal pouches is better indication for the non-operative esopha-geal reconstruction of congenital esophageal atresia.
