Combined antegrade and retrograde approach for dilation of radiation-induced esophageal strictures can be accomplished by a single endoscopist.

摘要

The article by Dellon et al, describing combined ante-grade and retrograde endoscopic dilation of radiation-induced esophageal strictures, is intriguing. At our institution, the combined endoscopic approach as described by Dellon et al1 has been accomplished safely by a single endoscopist. From 2006 to 2008, we performed 2 dilations as described previously.1 Each procedure was performed in an operating room suite with the patient under general anesthesia. In the initial procedure, pediatric biopsy forceps was used to.puncture the esophageal web/stricture; in the other procedure, a 5F needle-knife was used. A follow-up elective outpatient endoscopy for the second procedure revealed a recurrent complete obstruction.