Postoperative esophageal complications--prevention and treatment.

Postoperative esophagitis and stricture formation may be more serious than the disease for which operation was done. The best treatment is prevention by avoiding use of a nasogastric tube if possible. If it has to be used, the tube should have a small lumen and be removed as soon as possible.When surgical operation is necessary, the cardioesophageal junction should not be sacrificed unless it is absolutely necessary to do so.Conservative treatment if begun early can minimize or prevent the development of esophagitis and subsequent stricture formation.