title: Outcome of endoscopic therapeutic interventions: are they different among various non-malignant esophageal diseases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was carried out to evaluate and compare the outcome of various causes of non-malignant lesions of the esophagus after endoscopic therapeutic intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cohort of patients with non-malignant dysphagia presenting at Aga Khan University hospital, a tertiary care setting who underwent endoscopic intervention was studied. Response to treatment was evaluated by improvement in dysphagia score on a scale of 0-4 and weight gain.
  
  
  RESULTS
  99 subjects (53 males) were included. Mean age was 48.6 +/- 17.2 years. Dysphagia for solids was present in 48%, for liquids in 3% and for both in 49% patients. Significant weight loss (>10% body weight) occurred in 35 (35.3%) patients. Achalasia was diagnosed in 49.5%, peptic stricture in 30.4%, post sclerotherapy stricture in 12.1%, corrosive injury in 4%, post-operative stricture in 4%. In comparative analysis of achalasia and inflammatory groups, good response to dysphagia was seen in 40/49 (82%) and 22/50 (44%) respectively p < 0.001. Weight gain was 35/49 (72%) and 22/50 (44%) p <0.001 respectively. Significantly, more endoscopic sessions were required in inflammatory group compare to achalasia; 2.2 and 1.1 respectively; p <0.001 and 160% complications rate in inflammatory group comparing to no complications in achalasia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dysphagia and weight loss were common presentations in non-malignant esophageal diseases. Therapeutic intervention in inflammatory group was associated with high complication than the achalasia group.
authors.affiliation: Section of Gastroenterology. Department of Medicine. The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Rustam
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Shahab
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abid
authors.forename: Saeed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hamid
authors.forename: Zaigham
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Abbas
authors.forename: Hasnain
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Wasim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jafri
mesh_terms: D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D004931:Esophageal Achalasia / Q000209:etiology*; D004935:Esophageal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D004945:Esophagoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss