[Combination of diathermy and argon plasma coagulation in treatment of cicatricial esophageal stenoses].

Scar stenoses of the esophagus are caused by peptic reflux or following surgery of the upper gastrointestinal tract. Short scar cicatricial stenoses are difficult to treat and have a high recurrence rate. Pneumatic dilatations show a short term success. We treated 5 patients with a short scar esophageal stenosis after esophagogastrostomy (n = 3) and after esophagojejunostomy (n = 2). The main symptom was dysphagia. X-ray shows the length of the stenosis (max. 1.5 cm). The stenosis was cutted by diathermy in a starshape. In all 5 cases it was possible to achieve the wide lumen. There were no complications. The combination of diathermy and argon-plasma-coagulation is a safe method, rare of complications in the treatment of short scar stenosis of the esophagus.