Non‐vascular hollow organ gastrointestinal intervention

•. Balloon dilatation of benign strictures and metallic stents for malignant strictures produce proven optimal patient benefit, i.e. decreased mortality, decreased morbidity, best patient tolerance, non‐hindrance during concurrent treatment.•. Bacteraemia produced by dilatation requires antibiotic treatment in high‐risk patients.•. Endoscopic and percutaneous gastrostomy and gastropexy have low complication rates and high success rates.•. Colorectal strictures dilated and stented allow decompression of the bowel, correction of metabolic abnormalities, relief of symptoms and safer surgery.