Dilation and adjunct therapy for strictures

Strictures within the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) are a common issue faced by clinicians and can occur from a variety of benign and malignant etiologies. The goal of treatment is luminal enlargement to improve obstructive symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, obstipation or bowel obstruction. Generally, strictures can be effectively managed using endoscopic techniques of which dilation is generally the most commonly used and is effective in the management of strictures throughout the GIT. This review article will detail the current technologies available for the treatment of gastrointestinal strictures including indications of use, efficacy and safety.