Endoscopic balloon dilation for benign esophageal anastomotic stricture: factors influencing its effectiveness.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify factors that might affect the results of treating benign anastomotic stricture of the esophagus with balloon dilation.

Methods: Balloon dilation was performed on 35 patients with benign esophageal anastomotic stricture of the upper (esophageal cancer: 18) or lower (gastric cancer: 15, esophageal varices: 2) esophagus. The procedure was considered effective when patients were able to maintain a solid diet more than 12 months after the last dilation. The follow-up period ranged from 15-130 months (mean: 51 months).

Results: A total of 245 dilations were performed, with an average of 6.6 dilations per patient. Treatment was effective in 29 patients (83%). Balloon dilation was successful when treating strictures shorter than 12 mm in length. The strictures were significantly shorter in patients treated effectively (5.6 vs. 30.8 mm). The diameter of the stricture did not affect the results. All the strictures in the lower esophagus and all those resulting from stapled anastomoses were treated successfully, while the effectiveness of treating strictures in the upper esophagus or those resulting from hand-sewn anastomoses was 67% and 57%, respectively. Strictures without prior leakage were treated effectively 92% of the time, while the success rate fell to 56% if there was a preceding leak. An average of 4.4 dilations were performed in effective cases, while the average was 17.5 dilations in ineffective cases. The number of repeat dilations was correlated with the length of the stricture.

Conclusions: Balloon dilation can successfully treat strictures shorter than 12 mm long. The correlation equation may be used to predict the number of repeat dilations and treatment results, and is useful for deciding when to use an alternative method to balloon dilation.