Dilatation of bening oesophageal strictures: 3 yers' experience

Background: Benign oesophageal strictures are the most frequent complication of reflux oesophagitis and most common cause of non-malignant induced dysphagia. Fluoroscopic guided ballon dilataion of the oesophageal stricture is a known, easy, applicable, and effectiv technique.

Patients and Methods: From january 2006 to december 2008, fluoroscopically guided balloon dilation was performed in 80 patients with esophageal strictures. Technical success, clinical success, recurrence of dysphagia, and complications related to the procedure were retrospectively evaluated.

Results: 204 balloon dilations were performed in 80 patients, with a mean of 2,5 dilations per patient (range, 1–21). Technical and clinical success was achieved in all procedures. The patients in whom clinical success was achieved, 66 exhibited maintained initial improvement of dysphagia until their last follow-up and 14 exhibited recurrence of dysphagia after the first balloon dilation. Dysphagia recurred 1–6 months after the first balloon dilation. There were no major complications.

Conclusion: Fluoroscopically guided balloon dilation for benign esophageal stricture can be safe and effective. However, the high rate of recurrent dysphagia requires repeated dilations