Endoscopic dilatation
Your food pipe (oesophagus) is the tube that brings food from your mouth down your throat to your stomach. Certain conditions can cause scarring and narrowing in the oesophagus (strictures).
If you experience an oesophageal stricture, you may need endoscopic dilatation to treat it. Endoscopic dilatation widens the narrowing of your oesophagus. It is also known as endoscopic dilation or oesophageal dilation.
Dr Sami, our Consultant Gastroenterologist, is one of the key opinion leaders in this field and the lead author of the UK oesophageal dilatation guidelines.
Why do I need it?
If you have an oesophageal stricture, you may struggle to swallow food and, in severe cases, liquids. Food might also get stuck in your oesophagus or come back up your throat (regurgitation). Watch our video to learn more: What is an oesophageal stricture?
Common conditions that can cause oesophageal narrowing include
Some cancer treatments can also cause the oesophagus to narrow.
What happens during the procedure?
Having an endoscopic procedure may cause you to feel nervous if you don’t know what to expect.
Before we decide if endoscopic dilatation is the right treatment, we may perform:
- Upper endoscopy with a biopsy (small tissue sample)
- Barium swallow test – if you have a complex stricture
If you have an oesophageal stricture, you have likely had an upper endoscopy (gastroscopy) before. The process will be similar and we’ll ask you to prepare for endoscopic dilatation similarly.
Before the procedure
We will let you know ahead of time how you can prepare for the procedure. Usually, we’ll recommend that you don’t eat for at least six hours before the procedure. You should only drink water during this time. Two hours before, you’ll need to stop drinking water as well.
Let us know if you are taking any medications or herbal supplements. Tell us if you have any heart or lung conditions that you haven’t yet told us about.
Once you arrive, we’ll explain what we’ll be doing again to ensure you know what to expect. Feel free to ask us any questions about the procedure. We want you to feel at ease before we begin. We will also give you a sedative to make the process more comfortable.
During the procedure
The procedure will last around 10 minutes. It involves passing a narrow, flexible tube (endoscope) down your oesophagus. We pass a dilating (widening) device through the endoscope to stretch the narrowing.
The dilating device consists of a specially designed deflated balloon that is passed down your throat until we reach the narrowing. We then inflate the balloon with air or water. It may take a few sessions to widen the narrowing to the right size.
To remove the balloon, we take the air or water back out first. For a simple, straight stricture, we may use a bougie. A bougie is a cone-shaped, weighted tube. We use a small cone initially and gradually increase the cone size.
Recovery
Once the sedatives wear off, our gastroenterologist will let you know when you can go home. You may have minor chest discomfort for a short time afterwards. Read our blog to learn more: Sedation and communication during an endoscopy.
Risks of endoscopic dilatation
You might also have a sore throat for a few days, though painkillers should help. Complications during endoscopic dilatation are very rare but possible.
Risks
- A tear in your food pipe (oesophageal perforation)
- Bleeding in the oesophagus
- Reacting to the sedation
- Infection
Signs of a complication
- Black or bloody stools
- Difficulty swallowing
- Vomiting blood
- Chest pain
- Bleeding
- Fever
Our gastroenterologist will discuss the risks and benefits of the procedure in detail before you decide to have it.
Book an appointment
If you have an oesophageal stricture or narrowing, you may need endoscopic dilatation to widen your oesophagus. Our gastroenterologist will thoroughly assess and monitor your condition to determine the most suitable treatment. We also offer a second opinion service.
Get in touch today to book an appointment with our gastroenterologist.