A new technique for esophagoplasty in relatively long esophageal strictures.

A 3-year-old girl with severe dysphagia secondary to caustic stricture of the cervical esophagus (about 4 cm in length) underwent esophagoplasty by a new technique following failed attempts at esophagoscopy and dilatation. This procedure results in a neoesophagus in the region with a lumen approximately twice its previous diameter, which will further increase in size gradually after a number of dilatations. The postoperative course was uneventful. She had almost no dysphagia following four successive dilatations 1, 2, 3 and 5 months after surgery. Barium swallow revealed an acceptable lumen. She was asymptomatic 2 years after surgery.