Esophageal Dilation
An esophageal dilation is a safe, routine procedure performed to gently widen a narrowed section (stricture) of your esophagus, making it easier for food and liquids to pass naturally into your stomach.
When Is a Dilation Recommended?
If a narrowing in your esophagus is left untreated, it can significantly impact your daily life. Our team typically performs this procedure to bring long-term relief to patients experiencing:
Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) or a feeling that food is "stuck"
Frequent regurgitation of food or liquids
Chronic, severe heartburn or acid reflux
Persistent, unexplained burping or hiccups
What Is an Esophageal Dilation?
An esophageal dilation is performed as part of a standard upper endoscopy. To open up the narrowed pathway, your physician will utilize one of two highly advanced techniques:
Balloon Dilators: A tiny, specialized catheter with an expandable balloon is guided to the stricture and gently inflated to the precise diameter needed.
Guided Dilators: A series of flexible, specially tapered tubes are gently passed over a thin guidewire to gradually widen the area.
Other Uses: Beyond the esophagus, our team can use this exact same technology to open a narrowed exit from the stomach into the small intestine. This is highly effective for patients who have developed internal scar tissue following gastric bariatric surgery, which can inadvertently trap food.
How to Prepare for Your Procedure
Because an esophageal dilation is safely performed during a routine upper endoscopy, there are no extra lifestyle preparations required for the dilation itself.
Fasting: You will follow the standard fasting guidelines for an upper endoscopy (an empty stomach is required).
Medication Review: Please ensure our care team has a complete list of your current medications. Your physician may ask you to temporarily pause certain blood thinners or anti-clotting medications a few days prior to the procedure.
What to Expect on Procedure Day
Your comfort, safety, and privacy are woven into every step of our care.
The Setting: The procedure takes place right here in our state-of-the-art outpatient endoscopy center or day-surgery GI unit.
Sedation: You will receive a relaxing sedative through an IV administered by our anesthesia team. You will sleep peacefully and comfortably through the entire process.
The Procedure: Once you are asleep, your doctor will perform the upper endoscopy and precisely guide the dilating instrument across the narrowing. The dilation itself only adds about 5 to 15 minutes to the overall appointment, depending on the severity of the stricture.
Waking Up: You will rest in our recovery pavilion for a short period while the sedation wears off. Once you are fully awake, you can resume drinking fluids, and your physician will share their findings with you.
Recovering at Home
Activities: You can typically jump right back into your normal daily routine the very next day.
What is Normal: Most patients experience no unusual symptoms at all. It is entirely normal to have a mild, temporary sore throat for the rest of the day, which resolves quickly.
Diet: If any temporary dietary modifications are needed for your recovery, our nursing staff will provide you with clear, written guidelines before you leave.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Will I need to have this done more than once?
Depending on the underlying cause and the severity of the narrowing, it is very common to undergo repeat dilations. Spacing the procedure out over a few gradual sessions allows the esophagus to adapt safely and significantly lowers the risk of complications. Once the area is fully opened, repeat visits are often no longer required. If your stricture was originally caused by chronic acid reflux, your doctor may prescribe acid-blocking medications to permanently prevent the stricture from coming back.
Are dilation procedures done in other parts of the digestive tract?
Yes. Our specialists routinely perform similar, highly successful dilations in other areas of the GI tract using the same core technology. This includes widening strictures in the colon or a surgical "J-pouch" (performed via a colonoscopy), as well as clearing narrowed bile or pancreatic ducts during a specialized ERCP procedure.
Understanding Risks and Safety Precautions
When performed by our specially trained gastroenterologists, complications from an esophageal dilation are incredibly rare.
Potential Risks: In a very small percentage of cases, a minor tear or perforation can occur in the lining of the esophagus, which may require surgical repair. There is also a small risk of minor bleeding or a brief reaction to the sedative.
When to Contact Us Immediately: Our team takes every defensive precaution to keep you safe. However, you should contact our office or seek immediate medical care if you experience any of the following warning signs after your procedure:
Sudden chest pain or difficulty breathing
A fever or chills
Increasing difficulty swallowing or severe throat pain
Vomiting blood, or passing dark, tarry stools