Case series of endoscopic balloon dilation to treat a stricture caused by circumferential resection of the gastric antrum by endoscopic submucosal dissection

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) plays an important role in the management of gastric neoplasms. There are few reports regarding stricture development caused by ESD of gastric neoplasms. OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to determine the incidence of gastric stricture formation after ESD of gastric neoplasms and to report on the outcome and management of this complication: endoscopic intervention (ie, balloon dilation) versus surgery; the outcome of balloon dilation (success or failure/perforation). DESIGN: A case series from a retrospective review of gastric ESDs performed at Saga Medical School over a defined period of time. SETTING: Double-center territory, referral hospital. PATIENTS: An evaluation was performed in 532 patients with gastric mucosal tumors treated by ESD. A stricture was reported in 5 patients. All the 5 cases were located in the antrum. ESD that was performed in the cardia or the proximal stomach did not induce a stricture. RESULTS: Of the 5 cases of symptomatic gastric outlet obstruction, 1 patient required surgical intervention because of a near total gastric outlet obstruction not amenable to endoscopic intervention. The 4 patients underwent step-serial through-the-scope balloon dilations; in 2 patients, the procedure was successful, but in the other 2 patients, the procedure was complicated by a gastric perforation (50% incidence of perforation). LIMITATION: A retrospective study. CONCLUSIONS: Circumferential or subcircumferential resection by ESD in the antrum caused a stricture. Balloon dilation of the ESD gastric outlet obstruction might be a choice, but it is a risky treatment.