Esophageal rupture during balloon dilation of strictures of benign or malignant causes: prevalence and clinical importance.

Abstract

To review the prevalence and clinical importance of esophageal rupture during balloon dilation for treatment of esophageal stricture. Fluoroscopically guided esophageal balloon dilation was performed within 9 years in 96 consecutive patients with esophageal strictures. Esophageal rupture was classified into three types: type 1 was intramural; type 2, transmural; and type 3, transmural with mediastinal leakage. Each patient underwent one to seven procedures, for a total of 191 procedures. Esophageal rupture occurred in 20 patients (21%). Type 1 esophageal rupture occurred in eight patients, type 2 in 11, and type 3 in one. All esophageal ruptures were detected immediately after the procedure. Sixteen patients were treated with fasting, parenteral alimentation, and antibiotics; two were treated surgically; and two were treated with stent placement. No treatment-related deaths occurred. The overall prevalence of esophageal rupture was 21%. A substantial number of patients who developed type 1 rupture had associated clinical symptoms, such as pain and fever, but responded to conservative management and are thus included as having complications of esophageal balloon dilation.