Dilation of esophageal stenosis by balloon catheter

Abstract

Treatment of esophageal stenosis by large diameter balloon catheters offers significant advantages over bouginage. Catheter dilating force is confined to the affected segment and can be controlled by the patient's reaction. Perforation is practically excluded by the use of fluoroscopy, contrast media, flexible angiographic guidewires, and better control over the time and forces of dilation. Wider, more lasting dilation can be achieved. Forty-one dilations were done on 21 patients with this new procedure without complications and with improved relapse-free intervals.

Gruntzig angioplasty dilatation of an esophageal stricture in an infant

“…In adults, Gruntzig angioplasty balloon catheters have been used in the dilatation of narrowed blood vessels [1], bile ducts [2,3], ampulla of vater [4], biliary-enteric anastomoses [5,6], and esophageal strictures [7]. In children, there have been fewer reports of the use of Gruntzig balloons but they have been used successfully to dilate bilial3r [8] and esophageal strictures [9].…”

Acute and Delayed Effects of Radiotherapy in Patients with oesophageal Squamous cell Carcinoma Treated with Chemotherapy, Surgery and Pre- and Postoperative Radiotherapy

“…Postradiotherapy stricture of the oesophagus seen a t follow-up radiography was an expected side-effect of the treatment, and was remedied without complications by means of balloon dilation of the oesophagus, performed in conjunction with the radiography examination (17)(18)(19). Sometimes one such treatment was sufficient, though it often was necessary t o repeat the procedure, however, not more than four times.…”

Endoscopic Balloon Dilatation of Benign EsophagealStricture—A Nonhazardous Procedure?

“…The radial direction of the force exerted by the inflated balloon on the stricture is considered to be the reason for the beneficial quality of this technique compared to other endoluminal procedures for dilatation (Kollath et al, 1984). Balloon dilatation has also been recommended in cases inaccessible to other methods, be it narrow, long, or irregular strictures (Lindor et al, 1985).…”

“…The median duration of improvement is 12 months with a further procedure necessary in one out of three cases (Lindor et al, 1985). The high degree of therapeutic safety is achieved by continuous, direct inspection and fluoroscopy during manipulation of floppy guidewires, flexible, soft catheters and the degree ofballoon expansion during installation ofcontrast medium (Kollath et al, 1984). Although the endoscopist has become more expert at handling strictures and thereby decreasing the necessity for surgical intervention (Earlam and Cuna-Melo, 1981), perforation is reported in 1 out of 100 (Gttberg et al, 1982), to 1 out of 300 cases (Kozarek, 1986).…”