One of the main problems of retrosternal oesophagoplasty is the frequent fistulization of the cervical anastomosis. In 27 consecutive patients we protected the cervical anastomosis by means of a new absorbable polyglactin 910 mesh impregnated with collagen. The mesh, which was 3 cm wide and 4 cm long, was applied on two-thirds of the circumference of the anastomosis. A comparison between these patients and a series of 27 consecutive patients with unprotected cervical anastomosis showed a fall in fistulization rate from 41% to 14%, the difference being significant (P less than 0.05). No complication due to the use of this material was observed.