Long-term follow-up of the management of benign oesophageal strictures at Auckland Hospital 1990-1994

Aims. To audit the success of endoscopic dilatation treatment for oesophage al stricture, to determine any predictive factors for multiple dilatations and to compare data with a previous series from, the same department. Methods. The endoscopy records of 121 consecutive patients. with benign oes ophageal strictures undergoing endoscopic dilatation were reviewed at Auckl and Hospital from 1990 to 1994. Results. Two hundred and thirty-eight procedures were performed with no rec orded technical failures and minimal morbidity. The follow-up period from p resentation ranged from 18 to 77 months (median 47 months) and the symptom- free period after the last dilatation ranged from 6 to 77 months (median 47 months). One hundred and nineteen patients had been followed for 12, month s or more since their last dilatation. Sixty-three patients (52%) required only one dilatation, 44 (36%) patients required two to three dilatations an d 14 (12%) patients required more than three dilatations. There was a trend for patients treated with omeprazole to require fewer dilatations than pat ients treated with H-2-receptor antagonists (p = 0.07). Patients with tight strictures (< 11 mm) and Barrett's oesophagus required more dilatations. Conclusions. Oesophageal dilatation for benign peptic strictures is a safe and effective procedure.