A benign esophageal stricture, or peptic stricture,[1] is a narrowing or tightening of the esophagus that causes swallowing difficulties.
Signs and symptoms
Symptoms of esophageal strictures include heartburn, bitter or acid taste in the mouth, choking, coughing, shortness of breath, frequent burping or hiccups, pain or trouble swallowing, throwing up blood, or weight loss.[2]
If it is caused by esophagitis, in turn caused by an underlying infection, it is commonly treated by treating the infection (typically with antibiotics). In order to open the stricture, a surgeon can insert a bougie – a weighted tube used to dilate the constricted areas in the esophagus.[3] It can sometimes be treated with other medications. For example, an H2 antagonist (e.g. ranitidine) or a proton-pump inhibitor (e.g. omeprazole) can treat underlying acid reflux disease.
Epidemiology
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) affects approximately 40% of adults. Strictures occur in 7–23% of patients with GERD who are untreated.[5]
^ abShaker, Reza; Belafsky, Peter C.; Postma, Gregory N.; Easterling, Caryn, eds. (27 September 2012). Principles of Deglutition. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 746. ISBN978-1-4614-3794-9. Retrieved 26 June 2016. Chronic GERD is the most common etiology of benign esophageal strictures, referred to as peptic strictures.
^ abGinex, Pamela K., Manjit S. Bains, Jacqueline Hanson, and Bart L. Frazzitta. 100 Questions & Answers About Esophageal Cancer (100 Questions & Answers). New York: Jones and Bartlett, Inc., 2005. Print.