Dysphagia in a patient with Plumer Vinson syndrome: An innovative surgical dilatation technique after failed...

For the last five years, a 43-year-old female presented with progressive dysphagia for solids and liquids. She was treated for iron deficiency anemia by systemic and oral iron therapy. Gastroenterologists failed to pass endoscopes through the upper esophagus. Gastrogrifin swallow revealed a critical narrowing of the esophagus. She was referred to a thoracic surgeon for further management. The cervical esophagus was exposed through the neck incision along the anterior border of the left sternocleidomastoid muscle, and esophageal dilatation was achieved using the silicon foleys catheter. It is a very safe and valuable surgical technique when dysphagia cannot be managed by endoscopically.