Peptic esophageal stricture in children.
BACKGROUND
Peptic esophageal stricture as a complication of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occurs in 5% of the affected children.


METHODS
Case histories of 6 children treated successfully in the Department of Pediatrics and Clinic of Pediatric Surgery were studied. The diagnosis in each case was based on clinical symptoms (vomiting leading to hypothrophy, hematemesis, and anemia), and esophagoscopy, esophageal pH-metry (according to ESPGAN recommendations), and contrast X-ray examination. After evaluation medical treatment was applied in 3 and bougienage with a hard bougie in 6 patients. Because of failure of this treatment Nissen fundoplication and postoperative bougienage were performed in all patients.


RESULTS
In all surgically treated patients complete recovery without postoperative complications was achieved.


CONCLUSIONS
The authors give interpretation of the pathogenesis and outline the primary symptoms of the disease. Terms of performance and reliability of the instrumental methods of diagnosing are discussed. The experience in treatment of peptic esophageal stricture in children is presented.


CONCLUSIONS
Medical treatment combined with bougienage yields poor results in peptic esophageal stricture and Nissen fundoplication appears to be the treatment of choice.
Bosheva
M
M
Department of Pediatrics, Higher Medical Institute, Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
Chatalbashev
N
N
Pechilkova
M
M
Stanev
V
V
Stefanova
P
P
D002404:Catheterization; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D018662:Fundoplication; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male