title: Balloon dilatation of benign rectal anastomotic strictures -- a review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The occurrence of anastomotic stricture at the level of the rectum gives rise to three broad therapeutic options, namely major pelvic and abdominal revisional surgery, faecal diversion (stoma), or local revision by transanal approaches (including endoscopic and fluoroscopic). This article updates the current evidence and focuses on the results of the balloon dilatation technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  A Medline search was carried out using the search terms (dilatation OR dilatation) AND (stricture OR strictures OR stenosis OR stenotic) AND (rectum OR rectal). In an effort to lessen publication bias, articles included at least 10 patients who were consecutively referred for treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This review would suggest that probably relatively short strictures have been chosen for balloon dilatation and that the results have had a very low major morbidity (0.45%) and mortality (0%) rate.
authors.affiliation: Academic Surgical Unit, University of Hull, Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Cottingham, East Yorkshire, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ragg
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Garimella
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cast
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Hunter
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Hartley
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D004106:Dilatation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D011351:Proctoscopy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D012007:Rectum / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome