Offering Tailored Therapy for Patients with Benign Esophageal Strictures-A Tertiary Center Experience in Romania

Abstract

Background: Over the last two decades, therapy for benign esophageal strictures has shifted from empirical dilatations and surgery to evidence-based and complex endoscopic and surgical procedures, aiming to achieve long-term esophageal patency. Aim: The purpose of our study is to provide descriptive evidence regarding the appropriate tailored medical, endoscopic, and surgical management of benign esophageal strictures. Methods: This retrospective study includes patients with benign esophageal strictures; the data collected encompass the complete patient profiles, detailed etiologic and anatomic workups of the strictures, comprehensive imaging, as well as management and follow-up details. Technical and clinical success rates, adverse events, stricture patency, and the need for additional therapy have been evaluated. Results: Most of the strictures (80.2%) were complex, requiring advanced techniques for management. The primary treatment involved endoscopic dilation, performed with Savary-Gillard bougie dilators in 76.7% of cases and pneumatic balloon dilators in 23.3% of cases. Clinical success was achieved in 95.3% of patients, with a significant improvement in the Ogilvie dysphagia score. Patients with caustic strictures required repeated dilations over the years, compared to shorter intervals for peptic strictures. Adverse events were minimal (e.g., perforation 2.3% and bleeding 4.7%) and managed predominantly endoscopically. Refractory strictures (16.3%) required advanced interventions, including fully covered self-expandable metallic stents (fc-SEMS) and corticosteroid injections. Conclusions: Both our data and the current literature support the use of tailored endoscopic strategies as the first-choice options for managing benign esophageal strictures. Our results strongly suggest against one-size-fits-all therapeutic alternatives.

Keywords: balloon dilation; dysphagia; esophageal stenosis; peptic stricture.

Figure 1

Study flow chart.

Figure 2

Kaplan–Meier curve demonstrating mean time from first to last endoscopic dilation (ED) session during mean follow-up dilatation sessions of patients with benign esophageal strictures associated with higher number of ED sessions, stratified by etiology.

Figure 3

Strategy for tailored management of benign esophageal strictures (BESs) guided by current findings and literature assessment. PEG: percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy.