[Esophageal reconstruction for esophageal stricture after corrosive injury]

Swallowing a corrosive agent (alkali or acid) often causes severe pharyngeal, laryngeal or esophageal stricture (caustic stenosis), which is usually very difficult to treat. This paper reports two cases of esophageal stricture treated by esophagoplasty. Both cases had attempted suicide by swallowing a sodium hydroxide solution or acid. Case 1 was a 66-year-old man found to have severe hypopharynx and thoracic esophagus stenosis with supraglottic stricture. The supraglottic stricture was reconstructed with an ileocolon graft and laryngectomy. The intestinal anastomosis was patent, but the peristaltic motion in the ileocolon was not good. The patient continues to have difficulty achieving sufficient oral feeding and to receive supplemental feeding via a jejunostomy. Case 2 was a 81-year-old woman with severe thoracic esophagus stenosis after gastrectomy. The lesion was reconstructed with a jejenum graft. The intestinal anastomosis was patent. She achieved oral alimentation of both liquids and solids without aspiration after surgery. Esophagectomy in these cases can be difficult and hazardous due to extensive fibrosis and many adhesions to adjacent structures. In both cases, the reconstructed intestine passed through the ante-sternal route, so there was severe scar formation in the mediastinum, and an esophago-skin fistula formed in the cervical skin. Cervical vessels and intestinal vessels were anastomosed for blood supply to the reconstructed intestinal tract. This method is useful because it is safe and results in good deglution.