title: Dilation treatment for achalasia by Chen's soft (fibrous) dilator. An observation of 233 cases.
abstract: From May 1987 to January 1993, 233 patients with achalasia admitted to our hospital had been treated using a self-invented soft (fibrous) esophageal dilator, including 16 patients who failed in Heller's myotomy. 228 (97.85%) patients were dilated by way of mouth, 3 (1.29%) by way of stomach and 2 (0.86%) had had a transthoracic operation because of the rupture of the esophagus due to dilation. 19 (8.15%) came back to have the second dilation and 2 the third dilation. 73 (31.33%) cases were dilated in the out-patient department. In 97.85% of the patients, excellent and good results were obtained, through once, twice or thrice of dilation by way of mouth. No esophageal reflux or any sequela was seen after dilation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Taian Central Hospital, Shandong.
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: H X
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D000075202:Contraindications; D004106:Dilatation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D004931:Esophageal Achalasia / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged