Congenital esophageal stenosis

A series of 20 patients with congenital esophageal stenoses (CES), including 4 with tracheobronchial remnants, 6 with membranous diaphragm, and 10 with fibromuscular stenosis, is presented. The experience acquired by treating these patients is compared to 95 cases from the literature and a definition of CES is proposed. The 35% association of CES woth other anomalies, especially esophageal atresia, is analyzed and some difficulties in the treatment of this rare anomaly are discussed.