title: Endoscopic therapy of oesophageal strictures in children - a multicentre study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oesophageal strictures are rare in children but may require endoscopic dilation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To gather information on centres performing endoscopic oesophageal dilation in Poland.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data were obtained from questionnaires concerning the relevant data mailed to 22 paediatric endoscopy centres. Completed questionnaires were received from 11 centres.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 2010 the 11 Polish paediatric endoscopy centres performed a total of 10,650 endoscopic procedures. This included 347 oesophageal dilations in 106 paediatric patients aged from 1 month to 18 years. The numbers of patients treated at individual centres ranged from 2 to 40. The indications for oesophageal dilation were as follows: postoperative strictures in 68 children, oesophageal burns in 17 children, postinflammatory strictures in 14 children, achalasia in 4 children, and strictures caused by a foreign body in 3 children. Rigid guidewire dilators were used in the majority of procedures (271), rigid dilators without a guidewire in 32 procedures, and balloon dilators in 45 procedures. A total of 203 procedures were conducted under fluoroscopic guidance, and 144 without the use of fluoroscopy. The number of dilating sessions performed in individual children varied from 1 to 6 and more.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oesophageal dilation constituted a minor proportion of all paediatric endoscopic procedures. The majority of children requiring dilation were patients up to 3 years of age with postoperative oesophageal strictures. In the majority of the centres rigid guidewire dilators were used, and in one third of the procedures these dilators were introduced without fluoroscopic guidance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Gastroenterology, and Nutrition, Polish-American Children's Hospital, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Stanisław
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pieczarkowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Immunology, Children's Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Woynarowski
authors.affiliation: Chair and Department of Paediatrics, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Paediatric Nutrition, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Landowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Surgery, Polish-American Children's Hospital, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wilk
authors.affiliation: The Regional Children's Specialised Hospital, Olsztyn, Poland.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Daukszewicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology and Allergy, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Toporowska-Kowalska
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Paediatric Nutrition, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Albrecht
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Paediatrics, Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital - Research Institute, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Iwona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ignys
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Paediatrics, Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital - Research Institute, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Elżbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Czkwianianc
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Gastroenterologu and Nutrition, Faculty of Medical Science University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland.
authors.forename: Elżbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jarocka-Cyrta
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, University of Rzeszow, Rzeszow, Poland.
authors.forename: Bartosz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Korczowski
keywords: children; dilatation; oesophageal stenosis