title: Gastric outlet obstruction following surgery for morbid obesity: efficacy of fluoroscopically guided balloon dilation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of fluoroscopically guided balloon dilation (FGBD) in patients with symptoms of gastric outlet obstruction following surgery for morbid obesity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-one FGBDs were performed in 28 patients with symptoms of gastric outlet obstruction following gastric restrictive surgery for morbid obesity. The efficacy of FGBD was determined using five end points: (a) no recurring symptoms for an interval of at least 3 months, or recurring symptoms treated either (b) surgically, (c) with endoscopically guided balloon dilation (EGBD), (d) with FGBD, or (e) medically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following initial FGBD, 11 of 28 patients (39%) remained asymptomatic during at least 3 months of follow-up. Recurrent dysphagia occurred in 17 patients (60%), who were treated either surgically (n = 3), with EGBD (n = 4), with FGBD (n = 9), or medically (n = 1). Of the nine patients who underwent a second FGBD, two became asymptomatic. The seven patients who remained symptomatic were treated with surgery (n = 3), EGBD (n = 1), or FGBD (n = 3). Of the three patients treated with a third FGBD, one became asymptomatic. Overall, FGBD was effective in 14 (50%) of 28 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among patients with symptoms of obstruction following gastric surgery for morbid obesity, 50% experienced relief of symptoms following FGBD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Virginia Health System, Lee St, HSC 800170, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA. delange@virginia.edu
authors.forename: Peter L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Vance
authors.forename: Eduard E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: de Lange
authors.forename: Hubert A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Shaffer
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schirmer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002404:Catheterization; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D015390:Gastric Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017219:Gastric Outlet Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome