Four-year experience in the treatment of upper gastrointestinal strictures with balloon dilatation.

One hundred and sixty-four cases of upper gastrointestinal tract stricture were treated by balloon dilatation in 4 years. A total of 682 procedures were performed. One hundred and forty cases (anastomosis stenosis 95, caustic stenosis 33 and other stenoses of the esophagus 12) were followed up with an effective rate of 90% (126/140) and a long-term effective rate of 71.4% (100/140). Fourteen cases (10%) failed, and 11 of them were due to tumor recurrence. The concept about the short-term and long-term effects, the criteria for evaluation of the results, the factors influencing the effectiveness, and the time suitable for dilatation are described. For the dilatation, indications are anastomosis stricture of the upper gastrointestinal tract, esophageal web and caustic stenosis of the esophagus. This method is also indicated for cicatricial stricture of the upper gastrointestinal tract of various causes.