Colonic oesophageal interposition is a rarely performed upper gastrointestinal tract surgical procedure, in which colon is used to replace the distal oesophagus. The transverse colon with all or part of the ascending colon is the substitute of choice.
This has been performed for long oesophageal strictures or in some cases malignancy, but it's no longer a first line procedure for these indications. It still has value as a salvage procedure if the initial procedure (such as a gastric pull through) develops an uncorrectable problem (e.g. malignancy or fistula in the pull through).
The haustra of the colon are illustrated on plain radiograph, CT and barium swallow when imaged. They are often located in the anterior mediastinum.