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Esophageal Stricture
Compiled from across the library · built automatically
Educational content from recorded physician discussions — not medical advice. Always talk to your child's care team about your child's situation.
Content of this collection
Esophageal Dilation for children with Esophageal Atresia
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Animation video [in English]. Target audience: Parents and families. The video could also be used as an explanatory tool by healthcare professionals.
This is an ERNICA animation. Please consult your own care provider for local protocols.
video3:34 · Nov 2023
Steroids are thought to inhibit the formation of collagen, enhance its breakdown, and decrease fibrotic healing, thereby inhibiting scar formation and making stenosis less likely to recur. — Anfleur von Hall, STEPS-EA trial: Esophageal Atresia · 1:45
STEPS-EA trial: Esophageal Atresia
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video3:19 · Nov 2023
Working with Georgia Tech, the team developed a hydrogel that when exposed to UV light polymerizes like glue and holds tissue in place without killing cells, allowing cells to migrate out. — Michael Helmrath, Growing functional intestinal tissue from stem cells with Dr. Michael Helmrath · 6:50
Growing functional intestinal tissue from stem cells with Dr. Michael Helmrath
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In this video, we explore groundbreaking research from Dr. Helmrath and his team at Cincinnati Children
podcast8:32 · Nov 2026
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Esophageal Dilation for children with Esophageal Atresia
Children with oesophageal atresia usually have their esophagus surgically repaired shortly after birth.
Host summaryThe host summarizing a resource — not the host's own clinical position0:01 ↗
After surgical repair of esophageal atresia, it is common for children to develop an abnormal narrowing (stricture or stenosis) in the esophagus at the anastomosis point where the two halves were joined.
Host summaryThe host summarizing a resource — not the host's own clinical position0:30 ↗
Esophageal strictures prevent the normal passage of food to the stomach.
Host summaryThe host summarizing a resource — not the host's own clinical position1:00 ↗
Children with esophageal strictures may take longer to eat than usual and may show breathing difficulties whilst drinking.
Host summaryThe host summarizing a resource — not the host's own clinical position1:10 ↗
Signs of esophageal stricture may only become apparent when children start eating solid foods at a later age, with solid foods becoming stuck in the esophagus leading to discomfort and difficulty swallowing.
Host summaryThe host summarizing a resource — not the host's own clinical position1:25 ↗
All patients born with oesophageal atresia should be treated at a specialist center with a multidisciplinary team.
Host summaryThe host summarizing a resource — not the host's own clinical position2:00 ↗
Depending on symptom severity and the child's previous history, the clinical team may obtain X-ray images of the esophagus to examine the stricture using a contrast study where a tube is passed through the nose into the esophagus and special fluid is injected and observed on X-ray.
Host summaryThe host summarizing a resource — not the host's own clinical position2:10 ↗
Contrast X-ray studies show the tightness of the stricture and how easily fluid passes through it.
Host summaryThe host summarizing a resource — not the host's own clinical position2:25 ↗
If there is a significant stenosis, esophageal dilation is needed to widen the narrowed area so that food can more freely pass into the stomach.
Host summaryThe host summarizing a resource — not the host's own clinical position2:30 ↗
Esophageal dilation is always done under general anesthesia.
Host summaryThe host summarizing a resource — not the host's own clinical position2:40 ↗
In most cases of esophageal dilation, an endoscope is used to insert a small balloon inside the stricture, which inflates to stretch open the stricture and is then removed.
Host summaryThe host summarizing a resource — not the host's own clinical position2:45 ↗
Another esophageal dilation method uses the endoscope to pass a tapered elastic tube called a bougie into the esophagus to the stricture, with the doctor using several tubes one after the other that get progressively wider to gradually stretch the stricture.
Host summaryThe host summarizing a resource — not the host's own clinical position3:00 ↗
After esophageal dilation, oral feeding can restart under clinical team observation, which might be required for a few hours or sometimes the child will need to stay in the hospital overnight.
Host summaryThe host summarizing a resource — not the host's own clinical position3:15 ↗
A stricture can reoccur after a dilation procedure, and often the same procedure is needed multiple times before the esophagus is wide enough to pass food through it sufficiently.
Host summaryThe host summarizing a resource — not the host's own clinical position3:25 ↗
Most cases of esophageal stricture can be managed with 1, 2, or 3 dilation procedures.
Host summaryThe host summarizing a resource — not the host's own clinical position3:30 ↗
In rare cases of esophageal stricture, other additional treatments beyond dilation may be needed.
Host summaryThe host summarizing a resource — not the host's own clinical position3:32 ↗
Follow-up support for oesophageal atresia should be both lifelong and structured.
Host summaryThe host summarizing a resource — not the host's own clinical position3:33 ↗
STEPS-EA trial: Esophageal Atresia
The STEPS-EA trial is an international multi-center randomized control trial initiated by the Sophia Children's Hospital in Rotterdam with cooperation from the European Reference Network ERICA.
clinicalAnfleur von Hall0:00 ↗
The standard treatment for esophageal atresia is surgery with an end-to-end anastomosis to restore continuity.
clinicalAnfleur von Hall0:40 ↗
Stricture formation remains the most frequent post-operative complication in more than half of esophageal atresia cases.
epidemiologicalAnfleur von Hall0:55 ↗
The current standard treatment for esophageal stricture is endoscopic dilatation either by bouginage or by balloon dilatation.
clinicalAnfleur von Hall1:10 ↗
Worldwide, balloon dilatation is most frequently used for esophageal strictures, which is why it has been chosen as the standard procedure for the intervention in this study.
clinicalAnfleur von Hall1:20 ↗
Intralesional steroid injections are an adjuvant treatment to endoscopic dilatation, where mostly triamcinolone is used.
clinicalAnfleur von Hall1:35 ↗
Steroids are thought to inhibit the formation of collagen, enhance its breakdown, and decrease fibrotic healing, thereby inhibiting scar formation and making stenosis less likely to recur.
clinicalAnfleur von Hall1:45 ↗
Each of the four quadrants of the stricture will be injected with steroid.
clinicalAnfleur von Hall1:55 ↗
The trial will investigate three main topics: effectiveness, safety, and cost-effectiveness of intralesional steroid injection.
clinicalAnfleur von Hall2:00 ↗
110 children born with esophageal atresia are needed to prove the effectiveness of the steroid injection.
clinicalAnfleur von Hall2:10 ↗
Study group A will be injected with triamcinolone and then undergo balloon dilatation, while study group B will only undergo balloon dilatation as part of standard of care.
clinicalAnfleur von Hall2:18 ↗
All patients undergo an esophagram prior to dilatation as part of standard of care.
clinicalAnfleur von Hall2:35 ↗
A second esophagram will be performed to objectify the effectiveness of the intervention on the length and diameter of the stricture.
clinicalAnfleur von Hall2:42 ↗
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