title: Long-term dilatation of caustic strictures of the oesophagus.
abstract: Caustic strictures of the oesophagus (CSO) in children are managed in different ways. Our study looks into the results of long-term dilatation of such strictures. Of 109 children admitted to our hospital with caustic ingestion, 10 developed strictures. The dilatations were carried out for periods varying from 9 months to 4 years. While 3 patients needed surgical treatment, 7 did not and did well. The oesophageal perforation rate with dilatations was only 0.47% (2 perforations from a total of 424 dilatations). Long-term dilatations are successful in managing a majority of CSO in children and are associated with minimal complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Starship Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Askar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kukkady
authors.forename: P W B
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Pease
mesh_terms: D002404:Catheterization; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004106:Dilatation / Q000379:methods; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome