Flouroscopy-guided balloon dilatation of benign esophageal strictures: a single center study

ABSTRACT

To review the efficacy and safety of balloon dilatation among children with benign esophageal strictures. This is a retrospective review of 209 balloon dilation procedures performed under fluoroscopy guidance on 66 patients [38 male and 28 female] with benign esophageal strictures over 27 months [January 2009 to March 2011]. The study was conducted at King Hussein Medical Centre. Patients had a mean age of 26 months and a median of 3.2 [1-18] dilatations. Immediate technical success was defined as the ability to dilate the stricture without complications. Long term success was defined as the disappearance of presenting symptoms for a minimum of 12 months post procedure. All patients had the procedure performed under general anesthesia with pre and post procedure esophagogram. Simple descriptive statistics [frequency, mean and percentage] were used to describe the study variables. Immediate technical success was noted in 208 procedures [99.5%]. Esophageal perforation was encountered in one patient at the fifth dilatation session [type1 perforation]. Long term success was achieved in 44%, 42% and 14% of cases following a single, two to five and more than five interventions consecutively. Fluoroscopy-guided balloon dilatation procedure is a simple, safe and efficacious modality for treatment for benign esophageal strictures in children, with low rate of complications