Schatzki's ring: long-term results following dilation.

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Endoscopy
• Esophageal Disorders

Background:

• Schatzki's ring is a common cause of dysphagia.
• Endoscopic dilation is a primary treatment for Schatzki's ring.
• Long-term outcomes of dilation require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report long-term results of endoscopic dilation for Schatzki's ring.
• To evaluate the recurrence rate of dysphagia after dilation.
• To assess the correlation between ring severity and dilation-free interval.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 61 patients with Schatzki's ring.
• Patients underwent endoscopic dilation for dysphagia relief.
• Long-term follow-up (mean 75 months) assessed recurrence and need for repeat procedures.

Main Results:

• 63% of patients experienced recurrent dysphagia requiring repeat dilations.
• The dilation-free interval varied by severity but was not significantly correlated.
• Only 2% of patients required surgery for ring resection.

Conclusions:

• Recurrent dysphagia is highly prevalent following Schatzki's ring dilation.
• Initial ring severity does not reliably predict the need for subsequent dilations.
• Endoscopic dilation offers a generally effective, albeit often repetitive, treatment for Schatzki's ring.