Esophageal dilation as an outpatient procedure.

This report describes a ten year experience with esophageal dilation done on an outpatient basis for a variety of esophageal strictures. An account is given of the two main types of dilators used, showing no particular advantage of one type compared with the other for long term results. All types of strictures have been found to be suitable for this form of therapy. The low morbidity rate and lack of general anesthesia make these interventions ideal for outpatient procedures. Attention is drawn to the possibility that malignant disease may supervene in benign strictures or be missed initially, and frequent biopsies are advocated.