Endoscopic dilation of esophageal stricture without fluoroscopy is safe and effective

Table 1 The Etiology of esophageal strictures

Malignant	n	Benign	n
EsophagealCancer		Anastomotic stenosis	13
Upper	3	Postoperative stenosis	2
Middle	11	Caustic stricture	2
Lower	7	Achalasia	5
Esophageal stump ca	5	Esophagitis	2
Anastomotic ca	2	External compression	1
Lung ca	2
Total	30		25

Table 2 The Classification of esophageal strictures

Grades	Passage (can eat)	Endoscopy* (can pass)	Lumen diameter
0	Normal diet (+)	Standard one (+)	> 12 mm
I	Solid diet (+)	GIF-XQ/240 (+)	9-12 mm
II	Half liquid (+)	GIF-XP (+)	6-9 mm
III	Liquid diet (+)	GIF-XP (-)	< 6 mm
IV	Water (+)/(-)	Tracer wire (+)**	< 1 mm

*Endoscopy: used Olympus endoscope. **Tracer wire (Wilson-Cook Medical Inc.) is 300 cm length with markers.

Table 3 The grade before dilation (177 sessions/55 patients)

Grade	Sessions	%
0	0	0
I	28	15.8
II	99	55.9
III & IV	50	28.3

Table 4 Adverse events and complications induced by the guide wire placement or dilation without fluoroscopic control

Complications	n	(%, 401 dilations)
Superficial mucosal tear	3	0.75
Tracheal intubation of Tracer	1	0.25
Severe hemorrhage	0
Perforation	0
Sepsis	0
Death	0