title: Step-Down Approach for Pharyngoesophageal Corrosive Stricture: Outcome and Analysis.
abstract: Pharyngoesophageal stricture (PES) is an Achilles' heel in the management of corrosive injury. Advances in endoscopic techniques were utilized in its management. We classified the stricture as per its dilatability and then planned their treatment.
  
  
  
  PES was sub-categorized based on endoscopic dilatation and availability of cervical oesophagus: group-1 stricture with available cervical oesophagus; group-2 stricture with some part of upper oesophagus made available after endoscopic dilatation and anastomosis in cervico-pharyngeal area; group-3 stricture not amenable for dilatation, anastomosis done at the pharynx. Endoscopic dilatation was performed using through-the-scope pyloric balloon. Number and duration of dilatation sessions before surgery, incidence of tracheostomy, time and incidence for re-stricture and present status of swallowing were evaluated.
  
  
  
  Of 226 patients managed, 46 underwent oesophageal replacement for PES. Group 1, 2 and 3 had 12, 14 and 20 patients, respectively. An average 3 (2-4) preoperative balloon dilatation sessions were performed over 6-8 weeks. Tracheostomy was required in 1, 0, 8 patients (p = 0.010), and median hospital stay was 10, 9 and 13 days (p = 0.09) in group 1, 2, 3, respectively. Re-stricture developed in 4/12, 4/14, 9/20 patients with average sessions of dilatation required in post-operative period was 4, 3.5 and 8 in group 1, 2, 3, respectively. >90% of patients are taking normal diet in each group.
  
  
  
  We attempted to avoid the high anastomosis by dilating the PES and step down the level of anastomosis in two-third patients. We thereby avoided tracheostomy, aspiration and swallowing problems related to high strictures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Govind Ballabh Pant Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research, 1, Jawahar Lal Nehru Marg, New Delhi, 110002, India. sundeepsaluja@yahoo.co.in.
authors.forename: Sundeep Singh
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Saluja
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Govind Ballabh Pant Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research, 1, Jawahar Lal Nehru Marg, New Delhi, 110002, India.
authors.forename: Vaibhav Kumar
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Varshney
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Govind Ballabh Pant Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research, 1, Jawahar Lal Nehru Marg, New Delhi, 110002, India.
authors.forename: Pramod Kumar
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Mishra
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Govind Ballabh Pant Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Siddharth
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Srivastava
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorynolaryngology, Lok Nayak Hospital, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Ravi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meher
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Govind Ballabh Pant Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Pritul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Saxena
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000150:complications*; D002424:Caustics / Q000633:toxicity*; D002648:Child; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000601:surgery; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000601:surgery; D004106:Dilatation / Q000379:methods; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014139:Tracheostomy; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002424:Caustics