Endoscopic dilatation of anastomosis strictures in surgical treatment of gastro-esophageal cancer

The incidence of esophageal anastomosis stenosis after surgical treatment of esophageal cancer is 14.4 %. Endosurgical method using dilators allows the adequate recanalization under vision to be performed in 80 % of cases. Endoscopic dilatation with 3-5 sessions of bouginage is required in most cases to obtain persistent clinical effect. Short-term efficacy of endoscopic bouginage was 75.4 % and long-term efficacy was 32.8 %. Stage III-IV stenosis caused by tumor recurrence in the anastomosis area or technical problems during formation of esophageal anastomosis are the main reasons of failures in endoscopic dilatation of esophageal anastomosis stenosis.