Dilation / Stricture Treatment

Gastrointestinal disease can cause different types of blockages in the esophagus, stomach, bile system, or intestines. Specialists can open these narrowed or closed-off junctures of the GI tract using various minimally invasive or surgical procedures. The procedures may dilate or stretch the opening or duct. Sometimes specialists will use stenting (placement of a small tube) to keep the area open.

Endoscopic procedures are often useful for this purpose, permitting dilation without incisions or with minimal incisions. In the ERCP procedure, specialists can place a catheter with a balloon on the end in a narrowed area and then inflate the balloon to stretch out the opening.

When surgery is necessary, it may be for purposes of removing or bypassing the narrowed section and then reconnecting the digestive tract to permit more normal digestive function.