[Post-caustic esophageal stenosis].

This study treats the last 13-year experience of the Surgical Department from the Fundeni Hospital Bucharest (Romania) regarding the surgery of the postcaustical esophageal stenoses. The series is composed of 25 patients (10 males and 15 women), with ages between 19 and 58 years. The patients were admitted in our unit at an interval between 2 months and 20 years from the caustical ingestion. In 20 cases we preferred seriate procedures (gastrostomy or jejunostomy as a first operation, followed after 2 months to 20 years by a reconstructive procedure). The reconstructive operation was accompanied by resection of the stenotic esophagus in 15 cases (60%); in 10 cases we performed a bypassing (without resection) presternal esophagoplasty. Resection of the esophagus implied a combined abdomino-thoracic approach in 10 cases and an cervico-thoraco-abdominal approach in 5 (depending upon the extent of the lesions). The early postoperative course was complicated by anastomotic leakage's in 5 patients (20%) and by pulmonary complications in another 5 (20%) cases. There were no postoperative deaths. The late follow-up showed a good functional result in 24 patients with medium weight gain of 2.6 kilograms and a normal social reintegration. In conclusion, we consider that the esophagus resection in postcaustical stenoses is indicated when there are no counterindications, with a low morbidity when it is performed in specialized surgical services.