Esophageal dilation.

Esophageal dilation, a technique developed four centuries ago, continues to be an important method of treating the symptom of dysphagia in patients with luminal narrowing of the esophagus. Dilation is safe, with < 0.5% chance of perforation and bleeding and a 0.01% risk of death. Mercury bougienage (Maloney dilators), hollow polyvinyl dilators (Savary-Guillard), and balloon dilators (Through the Scope) are the principal types of dilators in use today. Few trials have compared the differing dilating methods. The results of these trials are mixed, and further randomized trials are necessary to determine if any technique has advantages in efficacy and cost. Although most patients successfully treated with dilation suffer with peptic strictures, those with nonpeptic strictures due to lower esophageal mucosal rings, corrosive injury, and radiation injury can also be treated effectively with dilation. By reviewing the current literature, effective treatment algorithms can be used with patients suffering from dysphagia due to various types of strictures.