title: Clinical Outcomes of Dilation Therapy for Anastomotic Esophageal Stricture.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Benign esophageal stricture after esophagectomy is not an infrequent complication. Anastomotic esophageal stricture requires frequent multiple dilations. We aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of dilation therapies using an endoscopic balloon or bougie dilator and analyzed the risk factors associated with refractory stricture.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January 2009 and May 2016, the medical records of 21 patients treated with endoscopic balloon dilation or bougie dilation for esophageal anastomotic strictures were retrospectively reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the study periods, a total of 21 patients were diagnosed with esophageal anastomotic stricture and included for analysis (17 male; mean age, 68.2±7.2 years at the first procedure). The mean stricture length was 6.4±8.1 mm. The refractory stricture was found in 28.6% of patients, and successful relief of dysphagia was achieved in 71.4% of patients. The major complication associated with dilations was absent. Factors associated with refractory stricture were stricture length (> 10 mm, p<0.049) and diabetes mellitus (p=0.035). Additive bougie dilations achieved clinical success in 4 out of 7 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dilation with endoscopic balloon or bougie dilator was an effective and safe procedure for benign anastomotic esophageal strictures of less than 10 mm in length.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.|Research Institute for Convergence of Biomedical Science and Technology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Cheol Woong
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.|Research Institute for Convergence of Biomedical Science and Technology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Dae Hwan
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.|Research Institute for Convergence of Biomedical Science and Technology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyung Wook
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.|Research Institute for Convergence of Biomedical Science and Technology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Su Bum
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.|Research Institute for Convergence of Biomedical Science and Technology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Su Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.|Research Institute for Convergence of Biomedical Science and Technology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyeong Seok
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.|Research Institute for Convergence of Biomedical Science and Technology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Dae Gon
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Ryu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D004106:Dilatation; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000628:therapy*; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Anastomosis; Balloon; Dilation; Esophagus; Stricture