Management of benign esophageal strictures in dogs and cats: long-term follow-up of 32 cases (2006-2022).

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Benign esophageal strictures (BES) can decrease survival in dogs and cats. Little data is available on long-term survival after management. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To describe the outcome of BES in dogs and cats treated with esophagoscopy-guided balloon dilation. ANIMALS: Twenty-eight dogs and 4 cats with BES treated with balloon dilation. METHODS: Retrospective observational study. Signalment data, BES number and etiology, submucosal injection and triamcinolone acetate dose, PEG-tube placement, and number of dilations were recorded. The owners were contacted to obtain survival data and diet information. RESULTS: Median (interquartile range) values for dogs were age, 6.5 years (2.0-8.8); body weight, 7.0 kg (3.0-20.8); number of BES present at initial visit 1 (1-2). Identified causes for BES were peri-anesthetic regurgitation (20 dogs, 3 cats), esophageal foreign body (6 dogs, 1 cat), and vomiting (6 dogs). Dogs underwent a median of 2 (1-3) dilation sessions. Twenty-two dogs and 3 cats received submucosal injections of triamcinolone at a median dose of 0.45 mg/kg (.31-.54). Over the study period, the timing of triamcinolone injections shifted from before balloon dilation to after the procedure. A PEG-tube was placed in 9 dogs and 1 cat. Follow-up data were obtained for 25 dogs and 3 cats. Seven dogs and 1 cat could eat kibbles. Median survival time (MST) for 25 dogs was 2746 days (95% CI: 1860-3297). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Balloon dilation was apparently associated with prolonged survival in dogs with BES treated at our institution, with a MST 3.2-3.8 times longer than reported in previous studies.