Effect of dilatation of peptic esophageal strictures on gastroesophageal reflux, dysphagia, and stricture diameter.

In 10 patients with peptic esophageal stricture the effect of esophageal dilatation on intraesophageal pH, stricture diameter, and dysphagia has been studied. Percentage of time during which intraesophageal pH was less than 4 and the number of reflux episodes per hour did not change significantly. Stricture diameter increased slightly, but consistently, from 7.0 +/- 0.5 mm to 9.1 +/- 0.5 mm (P less than 0.01) four days after dilatation, but was not significantly different from predilatation values after 12 weeks. Improvement in symptoms of dysphagia was striking (P less than 0.01) four days and six weeks after dilatation, but worsened again at 12 weeks (P = NS). It is unlikely that esophageal dilatation adversely affects the intraesophageal environment.