title: Endoscopic balloon dilatation of esophageal strictures in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the efficacy and safety of endoscopic balloon dilatation of esophageal strictures in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  
  
  
  METHODS
  retrospective case series; population: 49 patients under 18 years of age referred to our center for esophageal strictures; treatment: endoscopic balloon dilatation; outcome parameters: residual dysphagia, weight gain, iatrogenic esophageal perforation, assessment of the esophageal lumen by endoscopy or esophagogram.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The three main etiologies were esophageal atresia (49%; n=24), corrosive injury (25%; n=12), and epidermolysis bullosa (14%; n=7), followed by a heterogeneous group of rarer causes (12%; n=6). The number of dilatations ranged from 1 to 8 sessions per patient (median ± SEM: 2 ± 0.3). The length of the follow-up period ranged from 20 to 109 months (median ± SEM: 40 ± 4 months). Treatment was successful in 86% of cases (n=42). Twelve percent of patients (n=6) had a residual stenosis requiring surgery, and a further one still experienced swallowing difficulties requiring enteral nutrition via gastrostomy in spite of the absence of significant residual stricture. Results were less satisfactory in cases of corrosive injury than with other etiologies. Three esophageal perforations were observed (6% of patients; 2% of procedures). All were medically treated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endoscopic balloon dilatation is a simple, safe and efficacious treatment of esophageal strictures in children.
authors: Pediatric ENT Department, Service d'ORL Pédiatrique, Hôpital Necker - Enfants Malades, AP-HP, University of Paris V, 149, rue de Sèvres, 75015 Paris, France.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Alshammari
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Quesnel
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Pierrot
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Couloigner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D004945:Esophagoscopy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome