Technology assessment status evaluation: balloon dilation of gastrointestinal tract strictures. American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.

Balloon dilation is an acceptable modality for the dilation of stenoses at various sites in the gastrointestinal tract. In the esophagus its reported efficacy and safety is similar to bougienage; in other sites it offers an alternative to surgical treatment, in most cases as the definitive therapy.