Between 1967 and 1980, a total of 99 patients with a benign stricture of esophagus, resulting from a chemical burn, underwent a reconstructive procedure in which various segments of colon were used to bridge the gap between the cervical esophagus and the stomach. There were 42 males and 57 females and most were in their twenties and thirties. The most frequent site of the stricture was upper 1/3 of the thoracic esophagus [48.5%] and the next most common site was the low cervical esophagus [23.2%]. In 89 cases, the right colon with or without the terminal ileum was used as the conduit in an isoperistaltic manner and in 10, the left colon was used in an antiperistaltic position, because the right colon was not suitable as the conduit. There was a higher incidence of regurgitation [90% vs 0%], leakage at cervical anastomosis [80% vs 27%] and stenosis at anastomotic site [70% vs 15%] in an antiperistaltic left colon anastomosis, as compared to isoperistaltic right colon anastomosis. This was felt to be due to the orad peristaltic motion of the transplanted colon which acted as a functional obstruction distal to the esophagocolic suture line, resulting in breakdown of the anastomosis, leakage and eventual stenosis at the site of anastomosis. In conclusion, colon is useful and effective conduit as an esophageal substitute. Either the right or the left colon can be used for this purpose, provided that it is placed in an isoperistaltic position to minimize some of the complications listed above. [KTCS 1982;2:188-193]