Objective To assess the therapeutic effect and quality of life (QOL) of patients with anastomotic stenosis after bougienage of esophagus following resection of esophagus with esophageal and of cardiac carcinoma.Methods A total of 135 patients suffering from anastomotie stenosis after resection operations were divided into a treatment group and a control group at random. All patients were given an esophageal dilator under gastroseope. In treatment group, deglutition training was given additionally, twice daily, 10 to 20 trials in each session. Therapeutic effect was evaluated according to patients' food intake and gastroscopy results of diameter of stenosis before treatment and 2,4,8 weeks after treatment. QOL was evaluated with Chinese version of SF-36 instrument. Results The food intake of all the patients improved. There was no difference of diameter of stenosis in degree Ⅰ stenosis patients be-tween two groups (P > 0.05 ) ; but the differences were statistically significant in degree Ⅱ and Ⅲ stenosis patients (P < 0.05). In treatment group, the degree and duration of improvement were more obvious. QOL of patients with degree Ⅱ and Ⅲ stenosis in both groups improved significantly after treatment ( P < 0.05 ), but compared with con-trol group the improvement was significantly greater in treatment group (P < 0.05). Conclusion The therapeutic effect of bougienage of esophagus can be strengthened with deglutition training. This combinative therapy is safe and effective.