title: Efficacy and safety of endoscopic balloon dilation of benign anastomotic strictures after oncologic anterior rectal resection: report on 24 cases.
abstract: Colorectal anastomotic benign strictures represent a challenging complication. Endoscopic dilation represents a valid and safe treatment. The purpose of this study is to retrospectively investigate the results of endoscopic balloon dilation for anastomotic stricture after anterior rectal resection for cancer in an institution. Twenty-four symptomatic patients with benign colorectal anastomotic stricture were treated between April 2001 and January 2005. All patients underwent dilation using through-the-scope balloon technique. The success of dilation, the number of sessions required, complications, recurrence, and the relationship between the number of dilation sessions and recurrence were assessed. Dilation was successful in 22 (91.7%) patients. There were no procedure-related complications. The mean number of sessions required was 2.3. There was no relationship between the number of dilation sessions and stricture recurrence. Through-the-scope dilation is effective and safe for benign colorectal anastomotic strictures after anterior resection. There was no relationship between the number of dilation sessions and recurrence.
authors.affiliation: Endoscopy Unit, Hospital Santa Helena, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil. sergioed@terra.com.br
authors.forename: Sergio Eduardo Alonso
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Araujo
authors.forename: Adriana Furtado
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Costa
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000601:surgery; D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods*; D003106:Colon / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003113:Colonoscopy; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D012007:Rectum / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome