Rare Procedure: Intestinal Transplant Restores Cancer Patient's Ability to Eat

Kaplan Hospital: A rare intestinal transplant performed on the esophagus of a 75-year-old man restored his ability to eat. The patient arrived at the hospital complaining of significant difficulty swallowing, only able to consume liquid food. An examination revealed a cancerous tumor in the esophagus, which was slowly advancing towards the stomach, partially blocking the esophageal passage.

For eight long hours, Dr. Guy Pines worked on the esophageal reconstruction surgery, including the transplant of part of the patient's small intestine. "In these surgeries, there is very little room for error," explained Dr. Pines. "We rarely use the small intestine for esophageal reconstruction, and after the successful surgery, the patient began eating gradually. The patient continues his daily life optimally."

Esophageal cancer is quite rare in Israel, and its causes are not well known, although triggers that accelerate it include stomach acidity (reflux), smoking, obesity, alcohol, and excessive consumption of red meat.