How long does it take to recover from esophageal dilation?

Your throat may feel sore for a day after dilation but usually improves within 24 hours.

How many times can you have your esophagus stretched?

In some cases, your esophagus can be stretched enough in one procedure. If it needs to be stretched a good bit, however, your doctor may want to perform this gradually over multiple procedures. If your esophagus was narrowed due to GERD, you may be prescribed acid-reducing medication to help prevent a recurrence.

Can esophageal dilation cause problems?

Risks and possible complications for esophageal dilation include: Infection. A tear or hole in the esophagus lining, causing bleeding and possibly needing surgery to fix. Risks of anesthesia.

How long after esophagus dilation can you eat?

Stick to liquids and soft foods for at least 24 hours after the procedure. Following your dilation, you’ll spend anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours recovering before you can go home. Avoid all solid foods for at least two to four hours after your procedure—ingesting liquids, only.

What are the symptoms of needing your esophagus stretched?

Typical symptoms include:

difficult or painful swallowing.
unintended weight loss.
regurgitation of food or liquids.
sensation of something stuck in the chest after you eat.
frequent burping or hiccups.
heartburn.

How do I know if I need my esophagus stretched?

You might need to have your esophagus stretched if you have been having trouble swallowing or other problems caused by a narrowed esophagus. When you swallow, you might experience discomfort when your esophagus becomes too narrow. This can affect your ability to eat if pain and discomfort are severe enough.

Can an esophageal stricture heal itself?

Once treated, the prognosis of esophageal strictures is quite good. While some may return and require subsequent treatment, most patients may resume their normal diet and routine.

Why would an esophagus needs stretched?

Why Do Doctors Stretch the Esophagus? Doctors stretch the esophagus in order to ease symptoms, such as trouble swallowing or discomfort. Keep in mind that the effects of this procedure can wear off over time.

Is dilation of the esophagus painful?

Is Esophageal Dilation Painful? While minimally invasive, esophageal dilation can cause bruising and soreness. Some patients may experience discomfort during the procedure, and pain when swallowing in the days afterward.

What does an esophageal stricture feel like?

The main symptom of an esophageal stricture is dysphagia, meaning difficulty in swallowing. This may manifest as a sensation of food sticking or feeling of delay in food passage in the throat, chest or upper abdomen.

Does esophagus narrow with age?

What are esophageal strictures? An esophageal stricture is an abnormal narrowing of the esophagus, a tube-like structure that connects your throat to the stomach. This condition is fairly common and can occur at any age, although it’s most common after age 40.

How do you get rid of an 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.

What do you need to know about esophageal dilation?

Your doctor recommends that you have esophageal dilation (also called dilatation). This procedure is used to widen a narrowed section of the esophagus. This is the tube that leads from the throat to the stomach. Narrowing, or stricture, of the esophagus can cause problems. These include trouble swallowing.

What is the name of the procedure to widen the esophagus?

Can a narrowing of the esophagus cause swallowing problems?

Narrowing (stricture) of the esophagus can cause problems. These include trouble swallowing. This sheet explains what to expect with esophageal dilation. Several problems can be treated with esophageal dilation.

When to stop barium dilation for esophageal retention?

If the patient has had complete emptying of barium by this test on the day following dilation and returns weeks or months later with dysphagia, it is repeated to objectively establish a relation between the symptom of dysphagia and esophageal retention.

An esophageal dilation is a procedure used to widen a narrowed section of your esophagus. This is the tube that leads from your throat to your stomach. Narrowing (stricture) of the esophagus can cause problems. These include trouble swallowing. This sheet explains what to expect with esophageal dilation.