Respiratory Virus and Measles Information

Treatments

Treatment for an esophageal stricture depends on the cause and severity of the stricture. Treatments may include:

Medication: Possible medications include:
- Antibiotics can be used to clear up a stricture caused by a localized infection.
- Medications to reduce stomach acid are the usual treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
- Corticosteroids may be used to treat eosinophilic esophagitis.
Bougie: Your physician can insert increasingly larger bougies, or weighted tubes, to dilate the narrowed area.
Pneumatic (balloon) dilation: Using an endoscope, a special balloon is passed through the mouth and into the esophagus, where it is inflated to stretch the restrictive muscles.
Surgery: Surgery may be recommended to treat tumors or achalasia.

Esophageal Dilation

Learn the many causes of esophageal stricture and how dilation can alleviate the problem.

Esophageal Varices

With esophageal varices, blood vessels in the esophagus become abnormally enlarged. They may then rupture (burst) and bleed.