First-Line Treatment of Esophageal Stricture
Esophageal stricture produces dysphagia, and its management is directed at restoring adequate luminal patency. This page summarises the first-line approach and the clinical goal that defines treatment success.
Treatment Goal
The primary objective is symptomatic improvement — specifically, relief of dysphagia.
Initial Management Approach
First-line management centres on an endoscopic approach to dilate the stricture. The choice of technique, the procedural target, and the recommended dilation schedule are specified in the full structured protocol.
Complete regimen details — including dilation method, procedural endpoints, and follow-up interval — are available via the protocol below.
References
- Endoscopic dilation in often the initial approach in the endoscopic management of strictures.
- The most commonly used forms of dilation are bougie dilation and through-the-scope (TTS) balloon dilation (Fig. 1).
- The authors suggested that clinicians should consider a dilation target up to at least 16 mm, if possible, to reduce the number of subsequent dilation sessions for benign esophageal strictures.
- The ultimate target diameter for a stricture varies, as the main goal is symptomatic improvement.
DOI: 10.1016/j.giec.2025.02.002
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