title: Comparison of different intervention procedures in benign stricture of gastrointestinal tract.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the most effective intervention procedure by evaluation of mid and long-term therapeutic efficacy in patients of stricture of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Different intervention procedures were used to treat benign stricture of GIT in 180 patients including pneumatic dilation (group A, n=80), permanent (group B, n=25) and temporary (group C, n=75) placement of expandable metallic stents.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The diameters of the strictured GIT were significantly greater after the treatment of all procedures employed (P<0.01). For the 80 patients in group A, 160 dilations were performed (mean, 2.0 times per patient). Complications in group A included chest pain (n=20), reflux (n=16), and bleeding (n=6). Dysphagia relapse occurred in 24 (30%) and 48 (60%) patients respectively during 6-and-12 month follow-up periods in group A. In group B, 25 uncovered or partially covered or antireflux covered expandable metallic stents were placed permanently, complications included chest pain (n=10), reflux (n=15), bleeding (n=3), and stent migration (n=4), and dysphagia relapse occurred in 5 (20%) and 3 patients (25%) during the 6-and-12 month follow-up periods, respectively. In group C, the partially covered expandable metallic stents were temporarily placed in 75 patients and removed after 3 to 7 days via gastroscope, complications including chest pain (n=30), reflux (n=9), and bleeding (n=12), and dysphagia relapse occurred in 9 (12%) and 8 patients (16%) during the 6-and-12 month follow-up periods, respectively. The placement and withdrawal of stents were all successfully performed. The follow-up of all patients lasted for 6 to 96 months (mean 45.3+/-18.6 months).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The effective procedures for benign GIT stricture are pneumatic dilation and temporary placement of partially-covered expandable metallic stents. Temporary placement of partially-covered expandable metallic stents is one of the best methods for benign GIT strictures in mid and long-term therapeutic efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200233, China. chengys@sh163.net
authors.forename: Ying-Sheng
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Ming-Hua
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wei-Xiong
authors.initials: WX
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ni-Wei
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Qi-Xin
authors.initials: QX
authors.lastname: Zhuang
authors.forename: Ke-Zhong
authors.initials: KZ
authors.lastname: Shang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D004106:Dilatation; D005260:Female; D017219:Gastric Outlet Obstruction / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015607:Stents