PERFORATION COMPLICATING BALLOON DILATION OF ESOPHAGEAL STRICTURES IN INFANTS AND CHILDREN

PURPOSE: The authors retrospectively reviewed their experience with balloon dilation of esophageal strictures in infants and children to determine the prevalence of esophageal perforation during this procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Balloon dilation was performed in 32 patients with esophageal stricture due to either congenital or postoperative stenosis. The total number of procedures was 141; each patient underwent one to 12 procedures. RESULTS: Four cases of esophageal perforation occurred during balloon dilation and were detected immediately after the procedure. Perforation in three of these patients was treated nonoperatively with parenteral fluid and antibiotics, and one patient was treated surgically with resection and creation of an anastomosis. The clinical course after treatment was favorable in all cases. CONCLUSION: Although esophageal perforation during balloon dilation of benign strictures has been reported as a rare complication, four perforations were observed in 32 patients. Esophageal perforation can occur in infants and children more frequently than previously reported.