Treatment of gastrointestinal stricture

A stricture is an area of narrow passage in the digestive tract. In the case of long-standing inflammation, after complex endoscopic surgeries or resections, a stricture can form. Most often, a stricture is caused by inflammation and healing of the mucosa, scar tissue can replace the normal tissue.

As a result, this scar tissue can cause narrowing of the digestive tract.
Occasionally, this narrowing can be so severe that it can cause intestinal obstruction.
The most common locations for these strictures are the ileum (the last part of the small intestine) and the ileocecal valve (the entrance from the small intestine to the large intestine), and in areas of surgical access.
Although strictures can also be seen in the upper digestive tract, colon, or rectum.

DEPENDING ON WHERE THE STENOSIS IS LOCATED, PATIENTS WITH STENOSIS CAN HAVE OBSTRUCTION SYMPTOMS THAT INCLUDE NAUSEA AND VOMITING, ABDOMINAL PAIN, BLOATING OR INABILITY TO PASS GAS AND FECES. TO DIAGNOSE STENOSIS, A COLONOSCOPY AND IMAGING SUCH AS CT OR MRI OF THE ABDOMEN CAN BE USED.

For the treatment of stenosis there are medical options including an endoscopic option that includes balloon expansion.
The balloon is usually inserted through the endoscope and located in the declared area.
The balloon is then inflated to the size required to expand stenosis. In some cases, several actions are necessary in order to achieve a good clinical result.

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