COMPARISON OF THROUGH THE SCOPE (TTS) BALLOON DILATORS WITH MECHANICAL DILATORS IN PATIENTS WITH BENIGN ESOPHAGEAL STRICTURE

INTRODUCTION: Esophageal stricture dilatation can be accomplished with mechanical dilators or balloons dilators. While conventional mechanical dilators exerts both axial and radial forces to dilate, the balloon type dilators exerts only radial forces, so that traumatic rupture and perforation are less likely complications. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients presenting with benign strictures were randomized into 2 groups of 86 patients. In group A, esophageal strictures were dilated with Savary Gillard dilators while in group B, strictures were dilated with TTS balloon. Patients were evaluated after every 2 weeks using Atkinson's dysphagia score and dilatation was repeated if required. At the end of 2 months both groups were compared for efficacy of dilatation. Atkinson's dysphagia score of 0 and 1 was taken as efficacious.RESULTS: In this study the mean age was 40 ±11.34 years in group A while in group B mean age was 41 ±13.39 years. In group A, 47% patients were male and 53% patients were female while in group B 45% patients were male and 55% patients were female. Efficacy on the bases of Atkinson dysphagia score after 2 months was 76% and in group 1 while 83% in group 2 with a p value of 0.85. CONCLUSION: Our study concludes that there was no statistically significant difference between balloon dilators and mechanical dilators.