esophageal dilation; bougienage

Indications

• esophageal stricture due to: achalasia

Procedure

• wire-guided polyvinyl bougies -
  • Savary-Gilliard dilators
    • relatively stiff & better suited to longer, tighter, & irregular strictures
    • need for fluoroscopy is variable
    • range is 5-20 mm; dilators are reusable
  • American dilators
    • shorter, less tapered, & impregnated with barium for better fluoroscopic visualization
  • complications:
    • trauma to the laryngeal wall
    • patient discomfort
• endoscopic balloon dilators
  • used through the endoscope
  • allow for direct visualization
  • relatively expensive, not reusable
  • fluoroscopy not mandatory, but useful in difficult cases

More general terms

• esophageal procedure

More specific terms

• esophageal balloon distension