Is a higher frequency of esophageal dilations more effective in treating benign esophageal strictures: a retrospective, multicenter study

Background: There is still a lack of evidence-based recommendations concerning endoscopic bougienage in benign esophageal strictures. Our study aimed to assess the relevance of the time interval between endoscopic dilation (ED) sessions with regard to endoscopic and clinical response. Methods: We performed a retrospective study including patients treated with endoscopic bougienage for a benign esophageal stricture in 2 German centers. Primary endpoint was the number of ED until freedom from dysphagia was achieved. Secondary endpoints comprised analyses on reaching a diameter of 15mm and on achieving clinical freedom from symptoms. Results: Between April 2014 and March 2020, bougienage was used as the primary treatment of benign esophageal strictures in 238 patients (194 patients in Center 1; 44 patients in Center 2). Both centers differed in their endoscopic bougienage regime: center 1 was characterized by a higher frequency of interventions compared to center 2 (median: 2 days (range 1, 28) vs. 10 days (range 1, 41); p<0.001). Clinical response was achieved significantly earlier using the high frequency regime in all patients except for those with postradiogen strictures, who clinically benefited from a low frequency ED program. Accordingly, patients receiving higher frequency ED reached a significantly larger post-dilation diameter and considerably larger diameter differences. Conclusion: The results of our study demonstrate that a treatment concept consisting of higher frequency bougienages seems to be more effective in treating most types of esophageal strictures. Radiogenic strictures were the only types of stenoses, which benefit from a lower frequency ED program.

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Is a higher frequency of esophageal dilations more effective in treating benign esophageal strictures: a retrospective, multicenter study ; day:26 ; month:06 ; year:2023 ; Endoscopy International Open ; (26.06.2023)

Contributors, Places and Time

• Contributor: Graf, Christiana ; Reden, Monika ; Blasberg, Tobias ; Knabe, Mate ; May, Andrea ; Ell, Christian ; Wedi, Edris ; Wetzstein, Nils ; Michael, Florian ; Zeuzem, Stefan ; Bojunga, Jörg ; Friedrich-Rust, Mireen

Further information

• DOI: 10.1055/a-2117-8197
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2023081011035415728046
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 14.08.2025, 4:54 AM CEST