Peptic Esophageal Stricture

Abstract

The medical literature abounds with controversy regarding the management of peptic esophageal stricture. In the past, the 1950s to the mid 1970s, a great divergence of opinion, concerning the surgical management of this condition resulted as thoracic and general surgical techniques became more sophisticated. The trend was to consider operative therapy as the preferred treatment. However, much of the recent controversy revolves around the nonsurgical management of the stricture as authors propose bougienage of the stricture coupled with medical management of gastroesophageal reflux disease as effective primary therapy for peptic esophageal strictures. However, this form of management as primary therapy requires close scrutiny in prospective trials and in trials with comparison to dilatation plus, antireflux surgery.