Long-term follow-up of the management of benign oesophageal strictures at Auckland Hospital 1990-1994.

AIMS

To audit the success of endoscopic dilatation treatment for oesophageal stricture, to determine any predictive factors for multiple dilatations and to compare data with a previous series from the same department.

METHODS

The endoscopy records of 121 consecutive patients with benign oesophageal strictures undergoing endoscopic dilatation were reviewed at Auckland Hospital from 1990 to 1994.

RESULTS

Two hundred and thirty-eight procedures were performed with no recorded technical failures and minimal morbidity. The follow-up period from presentation ranged from 18 to 77 months (median 47 months) and the symptom-free period after the last dilatation ranged from 6 to 77 months (median 47 months). One hundred and nineteen patients had been followed for 12 months or more since their last dilatation. Sixty-three patients (52%) required only one dilatation, 44 (36%) patients required two to three dilatations and 14 (12%) patients required more than three dilatations. There was a trend for patients treated with omeprazole to require fewer dilatations than patients treated with H2-receptor antagonists (p = 0.07). Patients with tight strictures (< 11 mm) and Barrett's oesophagus required more dilatations.

CONCLUSIONS

Oesophageal dilatation for benign peptic strictures is a safe and effective procedure.