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Esophageal Stricture Treatment
Effective Solutions for Swallowing Difficulties
What is an Esophageal Stricture?
An esophageal stricture is a narrowing of the esophagus that can make swallowing difficult or painful. This condition often results from chronic acid reflux, scarring, inflammation or cancer and can significantly impact a person’s quality of life.
At Central Gastro, we specialize in diagnosing and treating esophageal strictures using advanced techniques to provide relief and restore normal swallowing function.
Symptoms of Esophageal Strictures
Common symptoms include:
- Difficulty Swallowing (Dysphagia): A sensation of food getting stuck in the throat or chest.
- Pain While Swallowing: Discomfort when eating or drinking.
- Regurgitation: Food or liquids coming back up into the mouth.
- Heartburn or Acid Reflux: Often associated with strictures caused by GERD.
- Unexplained Weight Loss: Due to difficulty eating.
Causes of Esophageal Strictures
- Chronic GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease): Acid reflux damages the esophageal lining, causing scarring and narrowing.
- Eosinophilic Esophagitis: An allergic inflammatory condition.
- Radiation Therapy: Scarring from cancer treatments.
- Infections: Caused by fungal and viral organisms
- Injuries: Caused by medical procedures, swallowed objects, or corrosive substances.
- Tumors and Cancers: Both benign and malignant growths.
Esophageal Stricture Treatment Options
At Central Gastro, we offer a range of treatment options tailored to the severity and cause of the stricture:
- Esophageal Dilation
- How it Works: A balloon or dilator is inserted via an endoscope to gently stretch the narrowed area of the esophagus.
- Benefits:
- Minimally invasive and effective.
- Provides immediate relief from swallowing difficulties.
- Endoscopic Stent Placement (VIDEO)
- How it Works: A stent (a small expandable tube) is placed in the esophagus to keep it open.
- Ideal For: Severe or recurrent strictures, especially those caused by tumors or scarring.
- Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs):
- How it Works: Medications to reduce stomach acid and prevent further damage from GERD-related strictures.
- When Used: Often combined with other treatments to manage underlying GERD.
- Treating Underlying Conditions
- Eosinophilic Esophagitis: Managed with dietary modifications, corticosteroids, or other medications.
- Infections or Injuries: Treated with antifungals, antibiotics or anti-inflammatory medications as needed.
Advanced Diagnostics for Esophageal Strictures
- Endoscopy (OGD): Visualizes the esophagus and identifies the location and severity of the narrowing.
- Barium Swallow X-Ray: Assesses the structure and function of the esophagus during swallowing.
- Biopsy: Detects underlying conditions such as eosinophilic esophagitis or cancer.
