Mongrel dogs were randomly divided into 2 groups. In the first group, cervical esophageal reconstruction was accomplished utilizing nonrevascularized jejunal autograft. In the second group, irradiated horse vein was used as a heterograft. In both groups, the grafts became necrotic and acted as a stroma for the ingrowth of a dense vascular scar, which became lined by a stratified squamous mucosa. Strictures were the only uniform complication. They were soft and easy to dilate. Long-term survivors did well on a soft diet and infrequent dilations.