Endoscopic therapy with balloon dilatation in patients with colonic post anastomotic strictures. Personal experience

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Colorectal post anastomotic benign strictures are not uncommon. The purpose of this study was to investigate the results of endoscopic balloon dilatation of anastomotic strictures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was on a retrospective survey. Records of 14 consecutive patients with anastomotic strictures (5 F, 9 M; median age 64 years; range: 50-87 years), attending our GI Unit from February 1st 2008 to December 31st 2009, were analyzed. All patients had been operated for colon carcinoma. All of them were treated with balloon dilatation. RESULTS: All the patients presented symptoms of obstruction. The total number of dilatation sessions was 37 and the median number of sessions by patient was 1,5 (range: 1-7). After the procedures, all patients had an improvement of symptoms. No complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience underlines that endoscopic ballon dilatation, in patients with post anastomotic benign strictures, is a safe technique with a low rate of complications.