Endoscopy guided balloon catheter dilatation of non corrosive oesophageal strictures

ABSTRACT

This study included twenty patients with different non corrosive oesophageal causes of dysphagia that dilated without complications. Followed up for about one year. Improvement occurred in sixteen patients [80 %] whereas failure in-four patients [20%]. Dilatation was done under general anesthesia with endoscopic and fluoroscopic guidance.- Balloon dilatation of esophageal strictures is a safe, effective, low cost technique.- Balloon catheter dilatation is more effective and with less traumatic effect than the traditional dilators.- It is a good and effective technique in those patients who had failure of dilatation with traditional methods due to difficult strictures [long segment, tortous, tight]. Thus, surgery was avoided with its morbidity, mortality and cost.- It is an effective treatment for achalasia with good results and no complications. It also performed in patients less than 12 years old. Using fluoroscopy with guide wire increases its safety as it allows for complete visualization as the balloon is positioned and inflated, thereby decreasing the risk of perforation- Endoscopy plays an important role in direct assessment of the stricture and evaluation the results after dilatatio