STRICTURE OESOPHAGUS : CAUSES, CLINICAL FEATURES , TREATMENT , COMPLICATIONS

OESOPHAGEAL STRICTURE :

Causes :

   1. Corrosive injuries
   2. Carcinoma
   3. Columar lined oesophagus
   4. vitamins c deficiencies .
   5. Chronic reflux .

Clinical Features :

   1. Severe pain , drooling of saliva ,inability to swallow .
   2. Retrosternal burning , abdominal guarding & rigidity .
   3. Hoarseness ,stridor , laryngeal oedema ,if there is a laryngeal injury .
   4. Dysphagia later due to stricture .

Treatment :      

   1. Acute surgical intervention should be tried only in selected , referral centres wherein depending upon case ,oesophagectomy , gastrostomy , may be choice .
   2.Chronic cases present with stricture which needs regular dilatation , which is ideally done after 6 weeks .
   3.Colonic pull up is the choice for impassible stricture ,only after adequate nutrition is achieved through feeding jejunostomy .

Complications : 

   Development of malignancy .