[Instrumental dilatation of esophageal and gastric stenoses using Gruntzig's catheter and Celestin's dilator. Preliminary results].

The aim of this study was to present the technique of endoscopic dilatation and the preliminary results obtained with 2 new instruments, the Grüntzig balloon catheter, and the Celestin dilator, in patients with esophageal or gastric strictures. The Grüntzig balloon catheter was used 11 times in 7 patients (6 adults and one child aged 1 1/2 year), for the dilatation of severe or irregular strictures of the esophagus (5 cases), the stomach (1 case) and the pylorus (1 case). Partial (4 cases) or complete relief (2) were observed and allowed subsequent use of the Celestin bougies (2 cases), or the introduction of an esophageal prosthesis (1 case). In the child with caustic stricture of the esophagus, dilatation with the Grüntzig balloon-catheter was complicated twice by perforation. In the second case, the perforation was related to the technique used in dilatation and was treated by conservation measures. Endoscopic dilatations with the Celestin bougies were performed in 27 patients with benign (including 9 peptic strictures) or malignant strictures (14 cases, 7 related to esophageal cancer, and 7 to cancer of the cardia). A total of 74 dilatations were performed, attaining a maximum diameter of 16 or 18 mm in one session, in 21 patients (78 p. 100 of the cases). In the case of peptic stricture, the anatomical result was excellent in 8 patients and the functional result good in 7 of 9 cases. In case of malignant stricture, the result was conditioned by the evolution of the tumor; recurrence of dysphagia called for either repeated dilatations (8 cases) or the introduction of an esophageal prosthesis (5 cases).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)