Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Long-term results of balloon treatment for esophagus narrowing
By Hebert, Mary K et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2026·Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Management of benign esophageal strictures in dogs and cats: long-term follow-up of 32 cases (2006-2022).
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 6.5-year-old dog was diagnosed with a benign esophageal stricture, which can make it hard for pets to eat. The dog was treated with a procedure called balloon dilation, which helps widen the esophagus, and received injections of a medication called triamcinolone to reduce inflammation. After treatment, many dogs were able to eat regular kibble again, and the average survival time for treated dogs was significantly longer than in previous reports. This suggests that balloon dilation can be an effective treatment for dogs with this condition.
People also search for: dog esophageal stricture treatment · balloon dilation for dogs · triamcinolone for dog swallowing problems
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.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41742500/