[Conservative treatment of cicatricial stenosis of the esophagus].

One hundred and eight five patients with an esophageal burn were treated clinically, 53 of them showed already developed strictures. In 31 cases the narrowing could be passed by a bougie 12-14. In 28 of them the esophagus was dilated by means of a routine dilation; in 3 there was perforation of the esophagus necessitating jugular mediastinotomy in the first, transdiaphragmatic mediastinotomy in the second, and resection of the thoracic esophagus in the third, the results being favourable in all of them. In 5 cases dilation was accomplished via an esophagoscope, but in 9 gastrostomized patients a successful retrograde dilation was performed. Eight subjects having nonviable strictures were amenable to surgical therapy.