Related Content

• Conditions (14): Achalasia, Genetic and Rare Conditions, Esophageal Diseases, and 11 others Achalasia, Genetic and Rare Conditions, Esophageal Diseases, Digestive and Gastrointestinal, Esophageal motility disorders, Esophageal Dysphagia, Esophageal spasm, Gastrointestinal Diseases, Barrett Esophagus, CREST Syndrome, Muscles, Bones and Joints, Mallory-Weiss Syndrome, Esophageal diverticulum, Megaesophagus [hide]
• Groups (1): Achalasia Achalasia [hide]
• Symptoms (1): Achalasia Achalasia [hide]
• Treatments (26): Procedures, Heller's myotomy for achalasia, Pneumatic dilatation for achalasia, and 23 others Procedures, Heller's myotomy for achalasia, Pneumatic dilatation for achalasia, Benzatropine Methanesulfonate, Operations on the integumentary system, Heller Myotomy, Trihexyphenidyl Hydrochloride, Benztropine 1 MG Oral Tablet, Alendronate 35 MG Oral Tablet, Digestive System Surgical Procedures, Benztropine 1 MG/ML Injectable Solution, Alendronate 5 MG Oral Tablet, Alendronate 35 MG, Endocrine Surgical Procedures, respiratory system surgery, Trihexyphenidyl 2 MG Oral Tablet, Cystectomy, Alendronate, risedronate sodium, radical cystectomy, Gynecologic Surgical Procedures, OPERATIONS ON THE MALE GENITAL ORGANS, Meningocele Repair, Laser Treatment of Pigmented Lesions, Ileal Conduit Urinary Diversion, BENZTROPINE MESYLATE 1 MG [hide]

About Esophageal Dilatation

Esophageal Dilatation is a procedure that uses a device to stretch or open portions of the esophagus that have become restricted (stricture or narrowing) due to a number of conditions. These strictures cause difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) and are diagnosed by x-ray, barium swallow, endoscopy, CT and... more

Esophageal Dilatation is a procedure that uses a device to stretch or open portions of the esophagus that have become restricted (stricture or narrowing) due to a number of conditions. These strictures cause difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) and are diagnosed by x-ray, barium swallow, endoscopy, CT and manometry.

Among the conditions that can be treated are:

Achalasia - A rare condition in which the ring like muscular valve, known as the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), fails to relax properly to allow food to pass into the stomach and the contractions in the esophagus that push food down, peristalsis, are dysfunctional or otherwise unable to push the food through the LES. Dilating (stretching) the LES to the point that it disrupts its fibers weakens it allowing food to pass through the constricted LES.

Acid Peptic Stricture - This common condition results from scarring caused by acid reflux. Over time the scarring contracts causing the esophagus to narrow.

Ingestion of Caustic Agents - Caustic substances such as lye can burn the esophagus. The resulting scarring causing it to narrow.

Schatzki's Ring - A narrow ring of scar like fibrous tissue.

Devices and methods

Simple dilators (Bougies) - Long flexible dilators which are slid down the esophagus and through the strictures. They can be used quickly in the doctor's office with an anesthetic sprayed in the throat.

Guided Wire Bougie - A dilator with a hole through it. A guide wire is placed through the strictures endoscopically and the bougie is placed on the wire and passed through the strictures. Can be done in an endoscopy suite or X-ray room, generally with sedation and takes about a half an hour.

Balloon dilators - Inflatable cylindrical balloons that can be placed endoscopically and then inflated. It takes about half an hour, generally with sedation.

Achalasia Dilators - The largest of the dilators, up to 4.0 cm. These can be bougies but more often now are balloon dilators. It takes less than an hour, generally with sedation. The first recorded one, more than 3oo years ago, was a whale bone use by Sir Thomas Willis. See also: Pneumatic dilatation for achalasia.

Recovery is generally quick. Patients return to work the next day. There may be some bleeding in the esophagus and some pain. Generally these complication are minor and do not need any treatment. Achalasia patients may have spasm pain that can be extreme. In the cases where there are spasms they tend to become less frequent and less painful over time.

less