[The balloon dilatation of esophageal stenoses]

A number of 55 balloon dilatations were performed on 23 patients with oesophageal stenoses of various aetiologies. Among these, 22 displayed benign stenoses and only 1 case had a malignant aetiology. The number of dilatations per patient varied from 1 to 3. In the evaluation of the results, only the clinical criterion was taken into account, the radiological examination and the oesophageal passage scintigram being inconclusive in the respect. The balloon dilatation was successfully performed in 96% of patients. In the long-term follow-up, 82.4% of the patients with benign stenoses benefitted from this therapeutic procedure. In some patients it was necessary to repeat dilatation. The asymptomatic free interval was on the average of 11.5 months. It is concluded that the balloon dilatation is a simple, safe and readily applicable therapeutic method, that may be successfully used in the treatment of oesophageal stenoses of various aetiologies, allowing in most cases to avoid the surgical intervention.