Dilatation of benign esophageal strictures by peroral fiberendoscopic bougienage

A low risk procedure for dilation of esophageal strictures is peroral bougienage under direct endoscopic vision with a flexible fiberscope. First the stricture is inspected using the foreward lens of the fiberscope, and then dilated with conventional bougies according to its nature and size under direct visual control. In this paper we report on the treatment of 16 patients with inoperable advanced benign stenosis. In a total of 86 sittings an average of three bougienages each were performed without complication.