@Article{, title={OESOPHAGEAL DILATION OF NON-MALIGNANT STRICTURES USING PNEUMATIC (BALLOON) DILATORS}, author={Thamer J. Abdullah and Ismail D. Saeed and Rafae H. Al-kazzaz}, journal={The Medical Journal of Tikrit University المجلة الطبية لجامعة تكريت}, volume={22}, number={1}, pages={1-9}, year={2017}, abstract={Background: In contrast to motility and some neuromuscular disorders; the initial presentation of patients with organic strictures of the oesophagus are usually with dysphagia for solid materials rather than liquids. Many congenital or acquired disorders and agents are responsible for stricture formation like reflux oesophagitis, congenital strictures, webs and rings, post-operative, radiation, drugs, etc. Balloon dilation has been widely used nowadays as a selective method for most of the non-malignant strictures.Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of balloon dilation for treating patients with non-malignant strictures.Setting: Endoscopy unit-Ibn Sena Teaching Hospital.Design: Case series study.Patients and method: Ninety-two dilation procedures have been performed on 16 patients (11 males and 5 females) whose ages ranged between 4–70 years with non-malignant strictures as an outpatient procedure under intravenous sedation and local xylocaine spray. They were referred to endoscopy unit at Ibn Sena teaching hospital during a period from Jan 2011 – Nov 2013. The intention was to dilate all strictures beyond 15 - 20 mm. with gradually increasing balloon diameters.Results: Strictures were due to reflux esophagitis in 8 cases, congenital in 3 cases, Schatzki's ring in 2 cases, anastomotic stenosis in 1 case, unknown in 1 case, and pemphigus in 1 case. The distribution of strictures was as follow; 2 in upper, 2 in middle and 12 in lower thirds. All patients needed several sessions of dilation with an interval of weeks – months depending on length, the severity of stricture and patient's response. All patients were discharged home on the same day after about one hour following the procedure.No major complications were encountered, however, some minor complications had been observed in 3 patients.Conclusion: The present study addresses that balloon dilation is an effective and relatively safe procedure for non-malignant esophageal strictures.

} }