A therapeutic endoscopic procedure used to widen (dilate) narrowed areas of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract called strictures.

Strictures can be caused by inflammation, scarring, tumors, surgery, or radiation.

The goal is to relieve obstruction symptoms (difficulty swallowing, abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, or vomiting).

Techniques of Stricture Dilatation

Balloon Dilatation

Inflatable balloon passed through endoscope → gradually inflated to stretch narrowing.

Provides controlled, graded dilatation.

Bougie Dilatation

Long, tapered dilators (Savary-Gilliard, Maloney bougies) passed through stricture to widen it.

Done progressively with increasing sizes.

Indications (Where It’s Used)

Esophageal strictures (peptic stricture, post-surgical, caustic injury, achalasia adjunct).

Pyloric stenosis (narrowing between stomach and duodenum).

Small bowel strictures (e.g., Crohn’s disease).

Colorectal strictures (post-surgical anastomotic stricture, IBD, radiation injury).

Biliary strictures (ERCP-guided balloon dilatation).

Advantages

Minimally invasive alternative to surgery.

Provides immediate relief of obstruction symptoms.

Can be repeated if stricture recurs.

Risks

Bleeding

Perforation (most serious complication)

Recurrence of stricture (may require repeat dilatation or stenting)