2019
Refers to a procedure that dilates, or stretches, a narrowed area of the esophagus.
Esophageal dilatation provides a therapeutic endoscopic procedure that enlarges the lumen of the esophagus.
It can be used to treat:
Peptic stricture
Schatzki rings
Achalasia
Scleroderma esophagus
Rarely esophageal cancer
There are three major classes of dilators that exist.
Mercury-weighted bougies are blindly inserted bougies placed into the esophagus and are passed in sequentially increasing sizes to dilate the obstructed area.
Bougie over guidewire dilators, after endoscopy.
Pneumatic dilatation or balloon dilatation can be done at the time of endoscopy or fluoroscopy.
Complications of esophageal dilatation include:
Odynophagia
Hematemesis
Esophageal perforation
Mediastinitis
It is common to require repeat dilations.
Repeat dilatations allows the dilation to be performed gradually and decreases the risk of complications.