The experience of esophagoplasties in various benign diseases (566) and cancer (534) of the esophagus is outlined. The operation of choice now is extirpation of the esophagus by cervico-abdominal approach with one-state posterior-mediastinal esophagoplasty by the stomach or (in case of impossibility to form the graft from the stomach)--large bowel. If there are contraindications to such operation or in case of necessity of one-stage reconstruction of the pharynx the optimal operation is sub- and total bypass esophagoplasty by the large bowel.
