BENIGN ESOPHAGEAL STRICTURES: ETIOLOGIES AND OUTCOMES OF ENDOSCOPIC DILATION

Introduction: Benign oesophageal strictures are defined by a narrowing of the oesophageal lumen of non-neoplastic origin, upper gastrointestinal fibroscopy generally poses the diagnosis and endoscopic dilation represents the first-line treatment.

Materials and Methods: We carried out a retrospective study over a period of 8 years (March 2015-March 2023), at the endoscopy unit of the CheikhZayed Hospital Centre in Nouakchott.

Results: 101 cases of benign oesophageal strictures were collected, the sex ratio (F/M is 3.59), the average age of our patients is 35.7 years (4-85 years) and the main indication was dysphagia (98%). Upper fibroscopy with dilation under sedation was performed in all patients showing: stenosis at the level of the cervical oesophagus and the upper oesophagus in 86%, the mid oesophagus in 4% and the lower oesophagus in 10%. It was impassable in 77.22%. Etiologies are dominated by Plummer Vinson syndrome in 72%, followed by peptic stenosis in 16% then post-radiation stenosis in 6% We performed 128 dilations with Bougies de Savary and Gilliard, with an average of 1.33 and extreme (1-4). The success rate is 95%, no complications were reported and the short-term evolution was good in all our patients.

Conclusion: Benign oesophageal strictures are frequent, the etiologies are multiple and endoscopic dilation is an effective and well tolerated method.