title: [Dilatation of anastomotic stricture by Nd:YAG laser beam under endoscopy].
abstract: Anastomotic stricture has become a common complication following surgical treatment of upper gastrointestinal cancers. A technique was devised to alleviate the stricture with Nd. YAG laser beam under endoscopy. The laser beam was applied at 3-4 different points near the anastomotic stoma. The thermal effect of the beam would cut the scar tissues in and underneath the mucosa, leading to dilatation of the stoma. A total of 48 patients with cancer of the esophagus (n = 21), gastric cardia (n = 20), body of stomach (n = 6) and gastric stump (n = 1) with postoperative anastomotic stricture was so treated. According to the degree of dilatation, the result of treatment upon longterm follow-up was good (the anastomotic stoma was enlarged more than 6 mm) in 41 (85.4%), fair (the stoma enlarged 4-5 mm) in 5 (10.4%) and poor in the remaining 2. Due precautions should be made to avoid bleeding and perforation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Digestive Tumor, Endoscopicunit Zhejiang Provincial Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou.
authors.forename: Z C
authors.initials: ZC
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Y Y
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects; D002299:Cardia; D004106:Dilatation; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000601:surgery*; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery