title: Through-the-scope balloon dilation for pyloric stenosis: long-term results.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Through-the-scope balloon dilation has been used for treatment of benign pyloric stenosis; however, long-term results are lacking in the literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis using the Kaplan-Meier method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between November 1986 and December 1993, 54 patients underwent through-the-scope balloon dilations for pyloric stenosis. The mean age was 57.5 years. There were 5 (9.3%) initial treatment failures due to tight stenoses and perforations from dilation occurred in 4(7.4%) patients. Forty-five (83.3%) patients underwent successful dilation. Four patients developed rapid restenoses and were found to have malignant obstructions. Forty-one patients entered our study. Time at risk commenced on the date of initial dilation. The end point was defined at the time at which patients presented with recurrent obstruction or other ulcer complications. The median follow-up period was 39 months. The ulcer complication-free probability at 3 months, and at 1, 2, and 3 years was 79.1%, 73.4%, 69.3%, and 54.7%, respectively. In all, 21 (51.2%) patients required subsequent surgery: 18 for recurrent obstructions, 2 for interval perforations, and 1 for bleeding.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While through-the-scope balloon dilation may palliate symptoms of obstruction, recurrent obstruction and other ulcer complications are common. It should be reserved only for patients at high risk for operative surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: J Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Suen
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods*; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011707:Pyloric Stenosis / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome