Ml. Freeman et al., Dilation of high-grade pancreatic and biliary ductal strictures with small-caliber angioplasty balloons, GASTROIN EN, 54(1), 2001, pp. 89-92
Background: Pancreatic and bile duct strictures may be too stenotic to allo
w passage of conventional endoscopic dilators,
Methods: Four patients with strictures (3 pancreatic, 1 biliary) that could
not be traversed with conventional endoscopic dilating devices, or in 1 ca
se by a Soehendra stent extractor, underwent stricture dilation with a 3.3F
peripheral angioplasty balloon to a maximum diameter of 6 mm,
Observations: All strictures in the 4 patients were successfully traversed
and dilated and stents were placed with resolution of the presenting clinic
al problem.
Conclusions: Small-caliber angioplasty balloons are useful for dilation wit
h subsequent stent placement of pancreatic and biliary strictures that are
refractory to standard endoscopic approaches.