Endoscopic treatment of benign anastomotic esophageal stenosis with electrocautery.
OBJECTIVE
Stricture of the esophagus following surgical resection is uncommon. Several methods have been described for treatment of this entity, but the therapeutic success may be impaired either by poor long-term results or by poor acceptance by patients. Even the high cost of the therapeutic management may represent a problem. We describe the use of electrocautery to treat benign anastomotic esophageal stenosis.


METHODS
Six unselected consecutive patients (four men, two women; mean age 68.3, range 54 - 82) with stenosis following esophagojejunostomy were enrolled in this trial. Postoperative stenoses were shown endoscopically (four patients) or radiographically (two patients). We performed endoscopic dilation of the strictures using electrocautery.


RESULTS
In all patients we obtained dilation of the strictures, without any immediate or delayed procedure-related complication. No recurrence of the stenosis was demonstrated during a mean 24-month follow-up (range 8 - 33 months).


CONCLUSIONS
This study showed that endoscopic electrocautery is a safe and effective treatment for benign anastomotic esophageal stenosis.
Brandimarte
G
G
Department of Internal Medicine, Digestive Endoscopy Unit, Cristo Re Hospital, Rome, Italy.
Tursi
A
A
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000601:surgery*; D004564:Electrocoagulation; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D004946:Esophagostomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007582:Jejunostomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*