Endoscopic balloon dilatation of small bowel stricture in Crohn′s disease with single balloon enteroscopy

Abstract

Objective To explore the efficacy and safety of endoscopic balloon dilatation of small bowel stricture in Crohn′s disease with single balloon enteroscopy (SBE).Methods Seven Crohn′s disease patients (four males and three females with a mean age of 37 years) were underwent 10 times dilatation.Before performance,Crohn′s disease with varying degrees of intestinal obstruction was confirmed by image and pathological examinations.There were 8 severe strictures,6 strictures in jejunum.The dilatation was performed step by step with controlled radial expansiondilator (CRE) balloon.After dilatation,the scope could reach the further small bowel was taken as a standard.Results The overall suecess rate was 8 of 10.The average diameter of intestinal stricture was expanded from (4.1 ± 2.5) mm before therapy to (10.2 ±1.5) mm (P＜0.01),and the average distance of the further small bowel that the scope reached was 62 cm.Two patients underwent twice and three times of dilatation.After the performance,all patients′ symptoms of abdominal pain and obstruction relieved obviously and there were no severe complication of bleeding or perforation.After the performance,the average follow-up time was 14 months,two patients were treated by surgery and the other two underwent dilatation treatment again because of the recurrence of symptoms.The median symptom-free time was 15 months and 70％ of patients were without symptom recurrence in one year.Conclusion Endoscopic balloon dilatation of small bowel stricture with SBE is a new technology of endoscopic treatment,which is safe and effective in the treatment of Crohn's diseasecomplicated with intestinal obstruction. Key words: Endoscopy; gastrointestinal; Intestine; small; Balloon dilatation; Crohn's disease; Constriction; pathologic