The technique of myotomy in esophageal reconstruction: an experimental study.

Circular myotomy has been shown to be a useful technique for approximating widely separated segments in esophageal atresia. We tested variations of this technique experimentally in dogs and found a significantly greater decrease in tension after double, spiral, and stepladder myotomies. Complications as measured by mortality and morbidity (leaks, strictures, and weight loss) were not found to differ statistically in the various groups, although there is a suggestion that the spiral myotomy group may have less postoperative problems.