Caustic Esophageal Strictures Research Articles

A Biodegradable Esophageal Stent in the Treatment of a Corrosive Esophageal Stenosis in a Child

A Biodegradable Esophageal Stent in the Treatment of a Corrosive Esophageal Stenosis in a Child

Mitomycin C decreases the rate of stricture formation in caustic esophageal burns in rats

Although the incidence of caustic ingestion is declining, the management of caustic esophageal strictures remains a challenge. Although many agents have been tried experimentally to treat strictures, few have gained clinical application. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of mitomycin C (MMC), which inhibits fibroblastic proliferation in treating delayed caustic esophageal strictures. Forty-two rats were allocated into 3 groups. Caustic esophageal burns were created as described by Gehanno. Group A was instilled only with saline. Group B was injured with 10% NaOH and left untreated. Group C was injured and received topical MMC at 0.04% concentration in the fourth week. At 56 days, stenosis index (SI), collagen deposition, and hydroxyproline content (HP) were determined in distal esophageal segments. Statistical analyses were performed. The mean SI in group B was significantly higher than others (SI: 1.15 +/- 0.37 d/lum, P < .05). Collagen accumulation was highest in group B, followed by groups C and A, respectively. Collagen deposition in group C was statistically lower than group B (P < .018). The mean HP in group B was statistically higher than others (5.07 +/- 1.30 microg/mg tissue, P < .05), and similar between groups A and C (1.20 +/- 0.20, 1.91+/- 0.79, respectively, P = .73). In the current study, MMC treatment ameliorated caustic esophageal stricture as reflected in the significantly lower SI. We conclude that MMC application is effective in the treatment of caustic esophageal strictures.

Corrosive oesophageal strictures in children: Outcomes after timely or delayed dilatation

Among benign oesophageal lesions, caustic strictures are the most difficult to dilate. In low-income countries, children suffering caustic oesophageal injury are frequently referred to the hospitals late, sometimes weeks after ingestion. Therefore, dilatation may be performed late and in highly fibrotic strictures. Reports about endoscopic and clinical outcome of such delayed dilatations are scanty. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of late caustic stricture dilatations in children, comparing it with the results of timely dilatations, both performed at the Hospital of the Italian Non-Governmental Organization "Emergency" at Goderich, Sierra Leone. From December 2005 to May 2007, 78 children (<15 years) complaining alkaline caustic ingestion were submitted to oesophageal dilatation, mainly (97%) using Savary dilators. Two groups were identified: children (group 1) with a late treatment (>6 weeks, 37+/-12 weeks), having arrived to the hospital late after ingestion, and children (group 2) dilated timely, i.e. at <6 weeks (4+/-1.4 weeks) after injury. Strictures were severe in all patients. Twenty-five children were dilated late after injury (6.4 dilatations/patient) with a follow-up of 11+/-2.5 months. A successful clinical outcome was observed in 91.6%. Four perforations (2.6% procedure-related) and one death (4.0%) were observed. Strictures recurred once in 72% of patients, twice in 31.8%. Thirty-one children were dilated timely (4.5 dilatations/patient) with a follow-up of 10+/-2.1 months and a clinical success rate of 96.7%. Procedure-related perforation rate was 0.7% with one death (3.2%). Stricture recurred once in 30% and twice in 3.3%. Delayed dilatation of caustic oesophageal strictures in children carries a higher risk of perforation and a higher recurrence rate.

THERAPEUTIC OPTION FOR CHILDREN WITH ESOPHAGEAL CAUSTIC STENOSIS

Caustic ingestion is a leading cause of esophageal stenosis in children. Herein we report four cases using mitomycin C (MMC), a drug that inhibits cell division, protein synthesis and fibroblast proliferation and has been used as an adjuvant therapy for caustic esophageal stenosis that is recalcitrant to conventional dilation techniques. A retrospective chart review was performed on four pediatric patients with severe, recurrent esophageal stricture after caustic ingestion. The patients had required six to 20 esophageal dilations over a 4–16‐month period before MMC application. MMC was applied after an endoscopic dilation on saturated pledgets at a dose of 0.1 mg/mL for 2 min in the area where the strictures had been lyzed. From the four children treated with MMC, two have been asymptomatic for 16 and 20 months and two still require esophageal dilation, however, at longer intervals. All patients have shown satisfactory weight gain with food intake exclusively per oral. Although further studies are required, there is strong evidence that MMC is a safe and effective adjuvant therapy in the treatment of esophageal caustic stenosis.

A new endoscopic technique for suspension of esophageal prosthesis for refractory caustic esophageal strictures

There is no clear consensus concerning the best endoscopic treatment of benign refractory esophageal strictures due to caustic ingestion. Different procedures are currently used: frequent multiple dilations, retrievable self-expanding stent, nasogastric intubation and surgery. We describe a new technique to fix a suspended esophageal silicone prosthesis to the neck in benign esophageal strictures; this permits us to avoid the frequent risk of migration of the expandable metallic or plastic stents. Under general anesthesia a rigid esophagoscope was placed in the patient's hypopharynx. Using transillumination from the optical device, the patient's neck was pierced with a needle. A n.0 monofilament surgical wire was pushed into the needle, grasped by a standard foreign body forceps through the esophagoscope and pulled out of the mouth (as in percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy procedure). After tying the proximal end of the silicone prosthesis with the wire, it was placed through the strictures under endoscopic view. This procedure was successfully utilized in four patients suffering from benign refractory esophageal strictures due to caustic ingestion. The prosthesis and its suspension from the neck were well-tolerated until removal (mean duration 4 months). A postoperative transitory myositis was diagnosed in only one patient. One of the most frequent complications of esophageal prostheses in refractory esophageal strictures due to caustic ingestion is distal migration. Different solutions were proposed. For example the suspension of a wire coming from the nose and then fixed behind the ear. This solution is not considered optimal because of patient complaints and moreover the aesthetic aspect is compromised. The procedure we utilized in four patients utilized the setting of a silicone tube hanging from the neck in a way similar to that of endoscopic pharyngostomy. This solution is a valid alternative both for quality of life and for functional results.

Colon interposition in the treatment of esophageal caustic strictures: 40 years of experience

The objective of this article was to analyze 40 years of experience of colon interposition in the surgical treatment of caustic esophageal strictures from the standpoints of our long-term personal experience. Colon interposition has proved to be the most suitable type of reconstruction for esophageal corrosive strictures. The choice of colon graft is based on the pattern of blood supply, while the type of anastomosis is determined by the stricture level and the part of colon used for reconstruction. In the period between 1964 and 2004, colon interposition was performed in 336 patients with a corrosively scared esophagus, using the left colon in 76.78% of the patients. In 87.5% a colon interposition was performed, while in the remaining patients an additional esophagectomy with colon interposition had to be done. Hypopharyngeal strictures were present in 24.10% of the patients. Long-term follow-up results were obtained in the period between 1 to up to 30 years. Early postoperative complications occurred in 26.48% of patients, among which anastomosic leakage was the most common. The operative mortality rate was 4.16% and late postoperative complications were present in 13.99% of the patients. A long-term follow up obtained in 84.82% of the patients found excellent functional results in 75.89% of them. We conclude that a colon graft is an excellent esophageal substitute for patients with esophageal corrosive strictures, and when used by experienced surgical teams it provides a low rate of postoperative morbidity and mortality, and long-term good and functional quality of life.

Oesophageal substitution with free and pedicled jejunum: short- and long-term outcomes

In children, the indications for oesophageal substitution are principally, long gap oesophageal atresia (OA), severe anastomotic disruption following primary repair of OA and severe caustic or peptic strictures. We present an outcome review of eight cases who underwent oesophageal substitution with jejunum at our institution between 1986 and 2001. The purpose of this study was to evaluate our experience with free/pedicled jejunal grafts and its long-term outcome as an oesophageal substitute. Operative and postoperative outcome with free and pedicled jejunal grafts in four cases of pure OA, two cases of OA and distal tracheo-oesophageal fistula (TOF), one patient with a high retrolaryngeal oesophageal web and one case of severe caustic oesophageal stricture. Six patients had an oesophagostomy and a gastrostomy fashioned previously. Eleven free jejunal grafts were performed in six patients (three intraoperative redo interpositions for immediate graft loss, three separate grafts in one patient and two free grafts in two patients). One patient's pedicled jejunal graft proximally required microvascular anastomosis while the other had a pedicled graft without microvascular anastomosis. Early postoperative complications included four upper anastomotic leaks (three free grafts, one pedicled with microvascular support), pneumothorax requiring prolonged ventilation and Horner's syndrome. Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury occurred in the patient who had a high retrolaryngeal oesophageal web. During follow up (5-18 years) late complications of upper anastomotic stricture in four patients and graft redundancy with subsequent kinking of the lower anastomosis were observed in one patient. Three patients established a complete oral diet; a further three patients relied on supplemental gastrostomy feeds and one patient is entirely gastrostomy fed. There were two late deaths, one from aspiration and the other from a severe asthmatic attack (5 and 7 months postoperatively, respectively). Our results indicate that there are significant complications related to the use of free jejunal grafts. Early recognition and treatment are of paramount importance in the ultimate achievement of a successful technical outcome.

Prevention of stricture with intraluminal stenting through laparotomy after corrosive esophageal burns

We sought to present our experience in preventing esophageal stricture formation using modified intraluminal stenting in patients with caustic burns. Between April 1976 and June 2005, 33 of 162 patients with corrosive esophageal burns were included in this study. Endoscopy was performed to define the degree of injury in all the patients but one. Among the 33 patients, 31 underwent modified esophageal intraluminal stenting through laparotomy 2-3 weeks after ingestion of corrosive agent and the remaining 2 patients underwent immediately after experiencing esophageal perforation. There was no death in this series. A 1-year-old child had aspiratory pneumonia because of poor compliance. The stent was removed without requiring anesthesia after it had been in situ for 4-6 months in the 33 patients. All the patients had a normal intake of food after removal of the stents, and stricture was not found on barium swallow. However, five patients had esophageal stenosis from 2 to 3 months during follow-up. One of them responded to esophageal bougienage, the remaining four patients required esophageal reconstruction and had a normal diet postoperatively. Twenty-four-hour pH monitoring in five patients showed that there was no gastroesophageal reflux. The modified esophageal intraluminal stent is able to prevent the formation of caustic esophageal stricture.

Evaluation of systemic oxidative status and mononuclear leukocytes Dna damage in children with caustic esophageal stricture

Esophageal stricture (ES) due to accidentally caustic digestions is a common problem in children. Mucosal damage and repeated dilatations lead to chronic inflammation and finally ES. We investigated the oxidative status and DNA damage of children with ES. Five children with ES were compared with the same age- and sex-matched healthy subjects. Oxidative status of plasma was evaluated by measuring myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and total peroxide (TP) level. Anti-oxidative status of the plasma was evaluated by measuring catalase (CAT) activity, and total antioxidant response (TAR). We used the Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis (also called Comet Assay) to measure DNA strand break in peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes. Mean MPO activity and TP levels in the ES group were significantly higher than the control group (0.83 +/- 0.35, 0.09 +/- 0.03 and 0.98 +/- 0.38, 0.34 +/- 0.20, P = 0.009 and P = 0.047 respectively). There was no significant difference in CAT activity and TAR levels between the two groups (P = 0.347). DNA damage in patients with ES was increased compared to control subjects (108.8 +/- 51.2 and 57.6 +/- 31.2 arbitrary units, respectively), but this difference was not significant statistically (P= 0.09). This study shows that systemic oxidative stress and alteration at the nuclear level occur in patients with ES, as a result of multiple dilatations and tissue injury. On the other hand, these results support that patients with ES may benefit from antioxidant treatment.

Mitomycin C in the management of pediatric caustic esophageal strictures: A case report

Although the incidence of caustic ingestion is declining, the management of caustic esophageal strictures remains a challenge. Mitomycin C (MMC) inhibits fibroblast proliferation and is effective in reducing scar in animal experiments. We report the case of a child with a distal esophageal stricture from lye ingestion managed with MMC. Despite repeated dilatations, at 1 year post injury, the stricture was 20% of esophageal diameter. Mitomycin C (4 μg/mL) was applied topically and circumferentially by endoscopy and repeated 4 months later. At 20 months follow-up, the child eats normally, and esophagram showed decreased stenosis (stricture was 50% of esophageal diameter). No complications were observed. Although controlled trials are required to confirm its efficacy, MMC should be considered as an adjunct in the management of caustic esophageal strictures in children.

Mitomycin C: An Alternative Conservative Treatment for Refractory Esophageal Stricture in Children?

Mitomycin C is an antiproliferative agent that has been used successfully as an adjunct treatment in ophthalmological procedures, in the management of laryngeal and tracheal stenosis, and more recently to prevent the recurrence of caustic esophageal strictures in children. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of local application of mitomycin C to refractory esophageal strictures in children. We performed a preliminary prospective study of local application of mitomycin C in four children, aged between 1 year and 6 years, who had refractory esophageal strictures. Two of the children presented with strictures caused by caustic ingestion and the other two children had anastomotic strictures following surgical repair of congenital esophageal atresia. The patients had required between four and ten esophageal dilations over a 5-24-month period before mitomycin C application. After an endoscopic dilation, mitomycin C was applied onto the dilation wound using a rigid endoscope. No complications were observed after the procedure. One child required a second application of mitomycin C 2 weeks after the first application because of recurrence of dysphagia. All the children remained asymptomatic and none of them required further dilation over a mean follow-up period of 24 months. Radiological control examinations revealed that there was no recurrence of the esophageal strictures and esophageal biopsies performed during follow-up showed no signs of dysplasia. Local application of mitomycin C is a potential alternative to iterative dilations, surgery, or stent placement for the treatment of refractory esophageal strictures in children. However, prospective, long-term assessment of outcomes is needed before any definitive conclusion can be drawn about the usefulness of mitomycin C in these patients.

Oesophagoplasty in the treatment of caustic oesophageal strictures in children.

A total of 111 children with caustic oesophageal strictures who have subsequently undergone oesophagoplasty were reviewed. Overall 80 patients had a retrosternal colon transplant; a two-stage operation with delayed cervical oesophagocolostomy was the preferred method in 68 of them. Of those having retrosternal surgery two had total necrosis and three had necrosis at the distal end of the transplant. The incidence of cervical anastomotic stenosis was six of 12 in the group undergoing single-stage surgery, compared with seven of 68 in those having the two-stage operation. Ten patients underwent a right thoracic retrohilar colon transplant, seven of whom developed redundancy of the graft. Redundancy was a lesser problem in the retrosternal placement of the transplant. Three patients underwent jejuno-oesophagoplasty which resulted in terminal necrosis in one patient and total necrosis in two. The remaining 18 patients had segmental resection of the intrathoracic oesophageal stenosis followed by end-to-end anastomosis. The overall mortality rate in the series was 3.6 per cent (four of 111).

Management of corrosive esophageal burns in 149 cases

We sought to present our experience in the management of esophageal burns. From April 1976 through October 2003, 149 patients with corrosive esophageal burns were included in this study. Treatment modalities consisted of modified intraluminal stenting in 28, colon interposition in 71, gastric transposition in 25, repair of cervical stricture with platysma myocutaneous flap in 17, and miscellaneous operations in 12 patients. Eleven of these patients underwent the above procedures twice at our institute. The remaining 7 patients were treated with conservative therapy. Twenty-three patients recovered from intraluminal stenting, and 5 experienced stricture after stent removal. One of the 5 patients with failed stents responded to bougienage, and the remaining 4 patients required esophageal reconstruction later. Of the 71 colon interpositions, 5 patients died postoperatively, and complications consisted of proximal anastomotic fistula in 17, anastomotic stenosis in 6, and abdominal incision dehiscence in 2 patients. Postoperative complications in the 25 patients with gastric transpositions comprised anastomotic stricture in 2 patients and empyema in 1 patient. There was a cervical leak in 1 of the 17 patients undergoing the repair of cervical esophageal or anastomotic stricture with a platysma myocutaneous flap. One of the patients in the group undergoing 12 miscellaneous procedures died 8 months after surgical intervention. All the survivors currently eat regular diets. Intraluminal stenting can prevent the formation of caustic esophageal stricture. The location of the cicatricial esophagus dictates whether to perform concomitant esophagectomy during esophageal reconstruction. Platysma myocutaneous flap repair is an excellent method for the treatment of severe cervical esophageal or anastomotic stricture.

Topical application of mitomycin-C in corrosive esophageal strictures

<b>Introduction</b>: Corrosive ingestion is the major cause of esophageal stricture in our country. Mitomycin-C, an anthracycline derived from <i>Streptomyces caespitosus, </i> has both antineoplastic and antiproliferative properties. Use of mitomycin-C have been well documented in various ophthalmologic procedures and laryngo-tracheal conditions where it has been shown that mitomycin-C inhibited fibroblast proliferation during the postoperative phase without damaging the mucosal and epithelial growth. This preliminary report documents the use of mitomycin-C in caustic stricture esophagus. <b><br>Materials and Methods:</b> A prospective study was carried out in ten known patients of caustic esophageal strictures. After taking informed consent patients were subjected to antegrade or retrograde esophageal dilatation under general anesthesia and mitomycin-C was applied topically by a 10 mm cottonoid sponge soaked in mitomycin-C solution (0.4 mg/ml) for 5 minutes at the stricture site. The procedure was repeated at 4 weekly intervals thereafter and need for further dilatation was assessed. Outcomes in terms of symptomatic relief and radiological evaluation were assessed after therapy and results were analyzed for effectiveness of mitomycin-C and compared with retrospective results of previous cases of corrosive ingestion managed at the same institution. <b><br>Results:</b> Total number of dilatations required were 34 (mean - 3.4) Two patients required single dilatation while two required six sessions. Symptomatic as well as radiological improvement was present in nine patients. <b><br>Conclusions:</b> Use of mitomycin-C seems to improve the outcome in patients of corrosive esophageal strictures. Patients who have undergone esophageal replacement also seem to benefit from mitomycin-C.

Mitomycin C prevents strictures in caustic esophageal burns in rats

<h3>Background</h3> Caustic esophageal injuries lead to stricture formation. Although a number of agents have been tried experimentally to prevent strictures, few have gained clinical application. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of Mitomycin C (MMC), which inhibits fibroblastic proliferation in preventing caustic esophageal strictures. <h3>Material and methods</h3> Fifty-six rats were allocated into four groups. Caustic esophageal burns were created as described by Gehanno. Group A was instilled only with saline. Group B was injured and untreated. Groups C and D were injured and received topical MMC at 0.02 and 0.04% concentrations, respectively. At 28 days, stenosis index (SI), collagen deposition, and hydroxyproline content (HP) were determined in distal esophageal segments. Statistical analyses were done. <h3>Results</h3> Mean SI in Group B was significantly higher than others (<i>P</i> < 0.05). Mean SI was statistically higher in Group C than A and D and similar between groups A and D. The greatest accumulation of collagen was found in Group B, followed by Group C, D, and A, respectively. Collagen deposition in Group D was statistically lower than Group B (<i>P</i> < 0.01) and similar to Group C. Mean HP in Group B was statistically higher than others (<i>P</i> < 0.05), significantly higher in Group C than Group D (<i>P</i> = 0.047), and similar between Groups A and D (<i>P</i> = 0.73). <h3>Conclusion</h3> MMC was effective in preventing strictures following experimental caustic esophageal injury, in a dose-dependent manner. We consider that it can gain clinical utilization with the establishment of effective mode, dose, and timing of therapy.

Minimally invasive esophagectomy for caustic esophageal stricture in children

Esophageal stricture after lye ingestion in children is the most frequent indication for esophagectomy in children, but this operation entails significant risks for complications. With continuing advances in minimally invasive technology, complex procedures such as esophagectomy can be performed using small incisions, with the aim of reducing morbidity and mortality. Experience with minimally invasive esophagectomy is limited and has involved thoracoscopic dissection with the addition of laparotomy for gastric mobilization. The authors report a case of intractable caustic esophageal stricture in a child treated by a totally minimally invasive esophagectomy through a combined thoracoscopic and laparoscopic approach. In adult patients, this procedure has been associated with decreased hospital stay and more rapid return to normal activities, and we believe similar benefits will be obtained in children. Until further studies are done to show the advantage over the standard open technique, this procedure should be performed only in centers with experience in open esophageal surgery in children as well as by surgeons with advanced thoracoscopic and laparoscopic skills.

Caustic esophageal strictures in children: 30 years’ experience

Many children in developing countries continue to sustain caustic esophageal injures. The first line of treatment is dilatation, unless contraindicated, where 60% to 80% success rate is expected. In cases of failure, esophageal replacement is the only hope for achieving normal swallowing. Over the last 30 years, more than 850 cases of esophageal replacement were done in the Pediatric Surgery Department at Ain-Shams University. Three types of replacement were performed, gastric pull-up (75 cases), retrosternal colon replacement (550 cases), and, in the last 12 years, transhiatal esophagectomy with posterior mediastinal colon replacement (225 cases). Complications in the last 475 cases include 10% cervical leakage, 5% proximal strictures, 2% postoperative intestinal obstruction, 1% mortality, and 0.6% late graft stenosis. Colonic replacement of the esophagus is the ideal treatment in cases of caustic esophageal strictures after failure of dilatation. The posterior mediastinal route is shorter, and in long-term follow-up results show improved evacuation and less reflux than with the retrosternal route.

Long-term functional results of transhiatal oesophagectomy and colonic interposition for caustic oesophageal stricture

Various surgical procedures have been advocated for the replacement of the scarred esophagus in children. The authors report on their experience with esophago-coloplasty. Over a 10-year period, 100 children (62 boys, 38 girls) with intractable caustic stricture of the esophagus underwent transhiatal esophagectomy and left colonic interposition. Their age at time of surgery ranged from 14 months to 8 years (mean, 3.4 years). The patients were followed up for a period from 5 to 15 years postoperatively. There were 3 deaths from respiratory failure. Stricture of the cervical esophagocolic anastomosis occurred in 6 patients and needed repeated dilatations (2 patients) and surgical revision (4 patients). Mild redundancy of the colonic substitute in the chest was noted in 5 cases, but there was no dysphagia necessitating revision of the colonic transplant. Peptic ulcer or symptomatic gastrocolic reflux was not seen. All patients are able to swallow and eat a normal diet. They gain weight and enjoy a normal life pattern. It is concluded that isoperistaltic left colon, based on both the ascending and descending branches of the left colonic vessels with simultaneous esophagectomy utilizing the transhiatal approach, is the best substitute for a scarred esophagus in children with satisfactory long-term results.—Thomas A. Angerpointner

Tratamiento mediante dilatación endoscópica de las estenosis esofágicas cáusticas

To evaluate the results of endoscopic dilatation in caustic esophageal strictures and to analyze the factors associated with a favorable response. We performed a retrospective study of 33 patients who underwent dilatation with Savary bougie between 1989 and 2001. Response to initial dilatation and outcome during follow-up were analyzed. The mean age was 50 years (8-83) and 58% were women. Intake was accidental in 29 (88%). In all patients, the caustic substance ingested was alkali. Dilatation was started in the acute phase in 12 patients (36%) and 13 presented inflammatory phenomena adjacent to the stenosis. During initial dilatation, 2 1.6 sessions (2-18) were performed and a favorable response was obtained in 18 patients (54%). At the end of follow-up, 68% of the patients presented satisfactory health status. The comparative study revealed that statistically significant variables for a favorable response to treatment were: accidental alkali intake, instauration of treatment in the chronic phase, absence of inflammatory phenomena, and a small number of initial dilatation sessions. In our series, more than half the patients with esophageal stenosis due to intake of corrosive alkalis showed a favorable initial response. In these patients with acute-phase stenosis who required a greater number of initial dilatation sessions, endoscopic therapy was less effective.

Long-term functional results of transhiatal oesophagectomy and colonic interposition for caustic oesophageal stricture.

Aim of the study. Various surgical procedures have been advocated for replacement of the scarred oesophagus in children. We report here on our experience of oesophago-coloplasty. Methods. Over a 10-year period, 100 children (62 boys, 38 girls) with intractable caustic stricture of the oesophagus underwent transhiatal oesophagectomy and left colonic interposition. Their age at the time of reconstruction ranged from 14 months to 8 years (mean 3.4 years). Results. The patients were followed up post reconstruction for a period ranging from 5 to 15 years. There were 3 deaths from respiratory failure. Stricture of the cervical oesophagocolic anastomosis occurred in 6 patients and needed repeated dilatations (in 2 patients) and surgical revision (in 4 patients). Mild redundancy of the colonic substitute in the chest was noted in five cases, but in no case there was dysphagia necessitating revision of the colonic transplant. Peptic ulcer or symptomatic gastric-colic reflux was not seen in this group of patients. All of our patients are able to swallow and eat a normal unrestricted diet, they are gaining weight and enjoying a normal life pattern. Conclusion. We conclude that isoperistaltic left colon, based on both the ascending and descending branches of the left colic vessels with simultaneous oesophagectomy utilising the transhiatal approach, is the best substitute for a scarred oesophagus in children with satisfactory long-term functional results.