Surgical management of strictures of the cervical esophagus

Strictures of the esophagus are difficult and challenging problems. Whether a result of caustic ingestion, trauma, or surgery, or a congenital abnormality, the patient suffers a disruption of the fundamental act of swallowing. The seven cases of stricture of the cervical esophagus presented here were not alleviated by the usual methods of antegrade and retrograde dilation. Each patient underwent a two-stage reconstruction of the esophagus. The strictures in four patients were secondary to a caustic agent, two were congenital, and one was of unknown etiology. All patients no longer require dilation and are essentially cured. This procedure will add to the armamentarium of the surgeon who deals with "hopeless" strictures of the cervical esophagus and, in properly selected cases, should be successful.