How do you treat esophageal stricture?
How do you treat esophageal stricture?
There are several different treatment options for benign esophageal strictures, including:
- Taking medications to reduce stomach acid, which can help prevent the stricture from recurring.
- Dilating, or stretching, the esophagus.
- Using a small tube called a stent to reopen the esophagus.
How long does a esophageal dilation last?
Your throat may feel sore for a day after dilation but usually improves within 24 hours. Localized irritation of the vein where the medication was injected may cause a tender lump lasting for several weeks, but this will go away eventually.
What to do if you have a narrowing of the esophagus?
A permanent stricture, or narrowing of the esophagus, can develop if your esophageal perforation isn’t treated right away. This condition can make swallowing and breathing more difficult. Early treatment will include draining any fluid from your chest. You’ll also need to take antibiotics to prevent or treat an infection.
What are the chances of surviving esophageal perforation?
The outlook is good if you’re able to receive treatment quickly. When esophageal perforation is treated within 24 hours, the chances of survival are high. However, the survival rate goes down significantly if treatment is delayed beyond the first 24 hours.
What are the effects of strictures on the esophagus?
A stricture narrows the esophagus, making it more difficult for food to travel down the tube. In severe cases, even drinking liquid can be difficult. Cancerous: These strictures get worse quickly. Benign (not cancerous): Benign strictures tend to progress slowly. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center.
What does it mean if you have a hole in your esophagus?
Medically reviewed by Justin Choi, MD on May 2, 2017 — Written by Erica Roth. An esophageal perforation is a hole in the esophagus. The esophagus is the tube that food and liquids pass through on the way from your mouth to your stomach. Perforation of the esophagus is uncommon, but it’s a serious medical condition.