Sternocleidomastoid myocutaneous esophagoplasty.

Four cases of short segment non-malignant lesions involving the cervical esophagus, in whom dilatation procedure failed were managed surgically using a sternocleidomastoid myocutaneous flap as a patch to widen the stenotic segment. There were no operative deaths and no leakage of the repair. Barium swallow studies with fluoroscopy and esophagoscopy were used for postoperative follow-up. The follow-up periods ranged from 6 months to 5 years. There has been no restenosis or ulceration of the patch. The follow-up period is certainly too short to allow for any carcinomatous transformation of the skin patch. The simplicity of this method as against other more extensive surgical procedures, such as colon interposition, and also its efficiency should be reason enough for it to be considered as a viable alternative in short segment stenosis of the cervical esophagus, especially in those cases that defy dilatation.