Regurgitation was the most common clinical sign and was present a median of 4 weeks before dilation.
Most animals had a single stricture; median diameter was 5 mm, and median length was 1 cm. Esophagitis and mucosal fibrosis were detected in 9 patients each.
Dilation was performed with progressively increasing diameter balloons, from 6 to 20 mm. After dilation, mucosal hemorrhage was mild to moderate in most patients.
Esophageal perforation was the only serious complication and occurred in 1 patient.
Postdilation therapy consisted of administration of cimetidine, metoclopramide, sucralfate, and prednisone in most animals.
The median number of dilation procedures performed in each animal was 2, with a range of 1-5. The median interval between dilations was 13 days. Stricture diameter markedly increased with subsequent dilations.
Median duration of follow-up was 131 weeks.
A successful outcome occurred in 88% of patients, with most animals able to eat canned, mashed, or dry food without regurgitation.
Mucosal fibrosis was associated with a better clinical response score, while increasing age was weakly associated with fewer dilations.
The dilation protocol used in this group of animals was safe and efficacious.
Source: Leib MS, Dinnel H, Ward DL, Reimer ME, Towell TL, Monroe WE. (2001): Endoscopic balloon dilation of benign esophageal strictures in dogs and cats. In: J Vet Intern Med. 2001 Nov-Dec;15(6):547-52.
|
