title: Endoscopic balloon dilation of colonic and ileo-colonic Crohn's strictures: long-term results.
abstract: The long-term effects of endoscopic dilation of colonic or ileo-colonic Crohn's disease strictures were analyzed. In 18 patients with a Crohn's disease-related low gastrointestinal stricture, the stenosis was dilated using through-the-scope (TTS) balloon catheters. A dilation to a diameter of 18 mm was always attempted. Treatment was successfully carried out in 16 patients, and was followed by immediate symptomatic relief in 14 patients. Long-term success was observed in nine patients. There were no complications. Balloon catheter dilation of a colonic stricture or stricture of an ileo-colonic anastomosis was found to be safe and effective. This treatment modality can be an alternative to surgery in a selected group of patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, University of Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Breysem
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Janssens
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Coremans
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vantrappen
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hendrickx
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rutgeerts
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods*; D003113:Colonoscopy; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007080:Ileocecal Valve; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D013997:Time Factors