• Resolution of esophageal stricture by means of a balloon dilation technique.

Uses

• Treatment of stricture secondary to esophagitis Esophagitis, esophageal trauma, burns, foreign bodies Esophagus: foreign body and, occasionally hairballs.

Advantages

• Most cats can be expected to show improvement following this technique. The magnitude of the improvement depends on the severity of the underlying pathology.
• Balloon catheter dilation is the treatment of choice: there is less risk of perforation than with bougienage and fewer dilation cycles are required to alleviate symptoms.

Disadvantages

• Repeated dilations may be required, usually at 1-3 week intervals, in severe cases.
• General anesthesia is always required.
• Ideally, fluoroscopic guidance should be employed during dilation treatment. The availability of this modality is limited however.
• An endoscope is required Esophagoscopy.

Alternative techniques

• Bougienage: dilation of stricture by means of the passage of progressively larger bougies - smooth, metal dilators designed to stretch the esophagus and reduce the degree of narrowing.
• The success rate is the same as, or slightly less, than that achieved with balloon catheters. However there is a greater risk of perforation and more frequent dilations may be required.
• Surgical resection or creation of traction diverticulum have been described.
• Transendoscopic argon laser therapy has also been used.

Time required

Preparation

• No specific preparation is required, however the patient must be fasted in standard manner prior to anesthesia.
• Underlying esophagitis should be addressed before stricture treatment.

Procedure

• 15-20 min.

Decision taking

Criteria for choosing test

• Esophagitis Esophagitis and any attendant complications, eg aspiration pneumonia, should be addressed prior to stricture treatment.