How do you get rid of an esophageal stricture?

How do you get rid of an esophageal stricture?

Esophageal dilation is the most common treatment for strictures. Your provider uses a balloon or dilator (a long plastic or rubber cylinder) to widen the narrow area of the esophagus.

Can you reverse esophageal stricture?

Various treatment methods can treat benign esophageal strictures effectively. However, esophageal strictures can reoccur, and people may need to have repeat dilations to reopen the esophagus. According to one source, 30 percent of people who have an esophageal dilation will require another dilation within a year.

What are the signs and symptoms of esophageal stricture?

The main symptom of an esophageal stricture is dysphagia, meaning difficulty in swallowing. This may manifest as a sensation of food sticking or feeling of delay in food passage in the throat, chest or upper abdomen.

What does a stricture feel like?

Symptoms of strictures include abdominal pain, cramping, and bloating. In serious cases, strictures can progress to the point of causing a complete intestinal obstruction, which may result in nausea, vomiting, abdominal distention, and severe abdominal pain.

Can I stretch my own esophagus?

Stretching is good for our muscles and mobility. But did you know that stretching may also be good for your esophagus? A stretching (or dilation) procedure may be an option if you’re suffering from benign (non-cancerous) esophageal stricture, or narrowing of the esophagus.

Do esophageal strictures get worse over time?

However, persistent tightness that worsens over time may be the result of esophageal stricture. Conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) may cause damage to the esophageal tissue over time, resulting in a buildup of scar tissue that makes swallowing progressively more difficult.

How are strictures of the esophagus treated?

How are esophageal strictures treated? Esophageal dilation is the most common treatment for strictures. Your provider uses a balloon or dilator (a long plastic or rubber cylinder) to widen the narrow area of the esophagus. What happens during esophageal dilation?

What causes a narrowing of the lower esophagus?

This causes inflammation in the lower part of the esophagus. Scarring will result after repeated inflammatory injury and healing, re-injury and re-healing. Eventually, the scarring leads to the narrowing of the esophagus. Besides GERD, there are other causes of esophageal narrowing, such as:

What causes food to be stuck in the esophagus?

Esophageal strictures can limit or block food and liquid that’s traveling from the throat to the stomach. Swallowing is difficult and you feel food is stuck in your throat. GERD is the most common cause of strictures, but cancer and other issues can also cause them. A dilation procedure can widen the esophagus and reduce symptoms.

What do you need to know about esophageal dilation and stretching?

Esophageal dilation. Esophageal dilation, or stretching, is the preferred option in most cases. Esophageal dilation can cause some discomfort, so you’ll be under general or moderate sedation during the procedure. Your doctor will insert an endoscope through your mouth into your esophagus, stomach, and small intestine.