Long-term results of palliative endoscopic and surgical intubation of benign oesophageal stenoses.

Benign oesophageal stenosis can be treated by different methods. Besides surgical procedures and established conservative treatment (e.g. dilatation), more invasive endoscopic techniques such as cryosurgery and laser therapy have recently been developed. Intubation, which has been used to treat malignant strictures, can also be used in benign oesophageal strictures. Between 1977 and 1989 a total of 43 tubes were implanted in 26 patients (mean age 62.3 years). The mean duration of intubation was 149 days. We report our experience in patients intubated for (1) acid burns, (2) actinic strictures, (3) peptic strictures, (4) postoperative stenosis, (5) postoperative complications and (6) tracheo-oesophageal fistulae. We also discuss the complications (dislocation, disintegration, bleeding, perforation, operative removal) and long-term results. Because of the prolonged survival of patients with benign oesophageal stenosis, follow-up and late complications are of particular importance in this report. Despite drawbacks, intubation is an option in the management of patients with benign oesophageal stenosis.