Long-term management of corrosive esophageal stricture with balloon dilation in children.
OBJECTIVE
There are only a few studies focused on efficacy and safety of balloon dilation in corrosive esophageal stricture in children. The aim of this study is to assess the long-term clinical results of balloon dilation in the treatment of corrosive esophageal stricture in children.


METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed the management of 18 children (median age 3 years) who were treated with balloon dilation because of caustic esophageal stricture between January 2001 and December 2008.


RESULTS
A total of 295 sessions of balloon dilation were performed in all patients over an 8-year period. Technical success was achieved in all patients, whereas clinical success was achieved only in eight (44.4%) patients after first dilation. Eight (44.4%) of all patients showed recovery within the first year and another six (33.3%) patients recovered within 2 years. Esophageal perforation occurred in one (5%) patient, during one dilation session (0.33%). The average number of dilation sessions was 12.7, 2.8, and 1, respectively, in the first, second, and third year. There was significant difference between the mean number of dilation sessions in the first and second year, and second and third year (p < 0.01 and p = 0.043).


CONCLUSIONS
Short-segment esophageal strictures, improvement of food intake capacity, and increase in intervals of dilation sessions are good patient indicators. We suggest that esophageal balloon dilatation is a safe and effective method of treatment in caustic esophageal strictures and recommend that balloon dilation program be performed for at least 2 years before deciding that dilation has failed and preferring other treatment modalities which have higher risk of complications.
Temiz
Abdulkerim
A
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
Oguzkurt
Pelin
P
Ezer
Semire Serin
SS
Ince
Emine
E
Hicsonmez
Akgun
A
D001466:Barium Sulfate; D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods*; D002424:Caustics; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003287:Contrast Media; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002424:Caustics; D003287:Contrast Media; D001466:Barium Sulfate