RESUMO
AIM: Benign stenosis of the lower gastrointestinal tract usually develops, due to complication of a surgical intervention or sometimes because of other inflammatory bowel processes. Their reoperation is technically difficult and risky. Therefore the authors use a balloon catheter dilatation in the treatment of lower gastrointestinal tract stenosis since 1985. METHODS: First a guide wire is passed colonoscopically, then under X-ray control a double lumen balloon catheter, or directly through the channel of the endoscope a single or double lumen balloon catheter is introduced into the stenosis, which is then gradually dilated to 12-25 mm diameter. The applied pressure is 1.5-3 atm. Result of the dilatation can be judged from the decreased indentation of the balloon, and from increased diameter of stenosis at colonoscopic, or sometimes colonographic follow up. RESULTS: Between January of 1985 and July of 2001 they performed 123 dilatation on 52 patients. The causes of stenoses were in 40 cases postoperative stenosis, in 5 Crohn disease, in 2 ulcerative colitis, in 1 ischemic stenosis, and in 3 scar of the anus. From all stenosis cases 4 were localised to the anus, 40 to the rectum, 7 to the colon, and 1 to the terminal ileum. Due to the dilatation the average diameter of the stenosis was increased from 7.2 (1-14) mm to 19.7 (14-25) mm. Following the dilatation in 42 patients out of 52 the colonoscope was passed through the stenosis. Colostomies were closed in 11 cases out of 17. In 4 patients the subileus state ceased, and all of our 3 patients colo-cutan fistula healed rapidly. 16 out of 52 patients re-operation was proposed. One patient had fever as complication which was treated with antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS: Dilatation of benign stenosis of the lower gastrointestinal tract with balloon catheter is an effective method, which in most of the cases (69%) will stop the obstructive symptoms and in the long run therefore surgery can be avoided.
