Foley catheter self dilatation for strictures of the upper end of oesophagus

Three patients having corrosive stricture of the upper end of oesophagus and two patients of impassable corrosive stricture of oesophagus who were subjected to coloplasty using descending colon and who developed stricture at the site of upper anastomosis were being treated by antegrade dilatations with oesophageal bougies under general anaesthesia. These patients were put on controlled, progressive, self, domiciliary, dilatation with foley catheter. Four patients became asymptomatic and did not require any other type of dilatation. One patient initially was not able to do the dilatations properly so she required re-training, after which she remained asymptomatic. Foley catheter dilatation of the strictures of the upper end of oesophagus was found to be simple, effective, easy to carry out, comfortable for the patient and economical.