MIDTERM FAILURE OF BALLOON DILATION OF AN ANTRAL STRICTURE AFTER LYE INGESTION

We report the case of an antral stricture following lye ingestion. The patient was treated by 3 dilations using a through-the-scope balloon dilator, initially with good results. One year later, the recurrence o f the symptoms led to 2 other sessions of dilation without success and a partial gastrectomy,vas performed. The intensify of the gastric wal l fibrosis on the surgical specimen, probably responsible for major mo tor impairment, accounts for the discordance between the good endoscop ic result and the clinical failure. Endoscopic dilation of lye-induced gastric strictures could be a temporary alternative to surgical resec tion because the gastric wall fibrosis blemishes the long-term functio nal result.