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Published on: March 25, 2022

Balloon catheter dilatation of benign esophageal strictures in children

Joshua L Weintraub1, Jan Eubig

  • 1New York Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, 177 Fort Washington Ave MHB 4HN-100, New York, NY 10032, USA. jw750@columbia.edu

Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology : JVIR
|May 12, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Fluoroscopically guided balloon dilatation is a safe and effective first-line treatment for benign pediatric esophageal strictures. This minimally invasive procedure offers a high success rate with rare complications, providing long-term symptom relief for children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Interventional Radiology
  • Pediatric Surgery

Background:

  • Benign esophageal strictures in children can cause significant dysphagia and feeding difficulties.
  • Traditional treatments may be invasive or less effective for long-term management.
  • Fluoroscopically guided balloon dilatation offers a less invasive therapeutic option.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the safety and efficacy of fluoroscopically guided balloon dilatation for benign pediatric esophageal strictures.
  • To assess complication rates and long-term outcomes of the procedure.
  • To determine the durability and success rate of balloon dilatation in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of 272 balloon dilatations in 49 pediatric patients (18 days to 18 years) between 2000 and 2005.
  • Assessment of complications, food intake, and dysphagia through chart and record reviews.
  • Efficacy measured by time to recurrent symptoms; durability assessed by frequency of dilatations.

Main Results:

  • 100% success rate with a major complication rate of 0.37% (one esophageal perforation).
  • 77% of patients required repeat dilatation within 9 months; average of 5.6 dilatations over 2 years.
  • Patients remained symptom-free for a mean of 110 days, with decreasing dilatation frequency over time.

Conclusions:

  • Fluoroscopically guided balloon dilatation is a safe and effective first-line therapy for benign pediatric esophageal strictures.
  • Complications are rare and manageable, with most children requiring less than one dilatation every 6 months.
  • The procedure provides durable symptom relief, making it the primary treatment of choice.
Abstract

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