Esophageal Dilation or Throat Stretching for Difficulty Swallowing

With a normal swallow, food, pills, and liquids are able to smoothly move from the mouth, through the esophagus, and down into the stomach without any difficulty. However, a blockage of some type can develop in the esophagus leading to food and pills getting stuck causing choking, gagging, and even regurgitation. This blockage can be due to an esophageal web, stricture, or stenosis of some type. The most common way to deal with such closures is to stretch it open. Known as esophageal dilation, this can be accomplished with bougies of increasing diameter or by inflating a balloon.

Both methods are shown in this video:
• Normal Swallow (0:00)
• Esophageal Stricture (0:21)
• Esophageal Bougies (0:46)
• Ballon Dilation (1:40)

As an aside... The lay term of "throat" stretch is not technically correct as the stretch is not actually occurring in the throat... but in the esophagus!

More info on swallowing difficulties other than stricture:

Video created by Dr. Christopher Chang:

#throatstretch #esophagealdilation #esophagealstricture #dysphagia #choking #swallowing

[AudiblyAly]

I've had this procedure (balloon dilation) done once and I am scheduled to have it done again next week. I have severe GERd, Esophagitis and Barrett's Esophagus. After my first one, I was in a lot of pain when swallowing just saliva. It went away in about 3 days and I was able to swallow without pain. Unfortunately, I am young and my esophagus returned to the original stricture state. I will most likely have to have this procedure re-done multiple times or until they figure out what the tumor in my esophagus is and if they can resection it. Good luck to anyone who has to get this done. It's well worth it.

[runningcreekfarms]

I had the procedure done by Dr. Campion in Jamestown New York. I could not swallow. I had a bariatric sleeve done in 2014 and I guess overtime it’s called a red ring with scar tissue. The forms in your esophagus at the beginning of your stomach, causing you to not be able to swallow or food getting stuck in your esophagus . He believes that I had this starting to grow scar tissue like, ever since I had the procedure in 2014, that night after the stretching procedure I was actually able to eat an entire small sized burrito, I was not able to eat before but in only little tiny amounts. I also wasn’t able to swallow pills towards the end before he did the procedure. I thank God that this procedure can actually be done but I did hurt for a week and a half to two weeks after it was dull, aching, feeling in my esophagus all the way to my stomach, thank God for these technologies and Dr. Campion western. New York is absolutely wonderful.

[JaneDoe-ms]

Good to know, I have a dilated asophigus, thank you for posting ❤❤

[JaneDoe-ms]

Good luck to all of you, i have said a prayer for you all God Bless xx❤❤

[JaneDoe-ms]

All, I hope all goes well, I will say a prayer for you xx❤❤

[H.Maria]

mine was very painful for 4 days. I had 20 mm done the same day by a well known specialist in my city and no perforation. Now I am great, no pain

[corymorris]

As an adult with a feeding tube I have not been able to find any support for my situation. My current speech therapist is combining these exercises with my diet.
Most sites or support services are specifically designed for children or the caregivers of infants. I feel like an outcast and it’s hard to find any good resources.
I am a 33 year old male who was diagnosed with drug resistant right temporal lobe epilepsy. Then recently I was diagnosed with a rare seizure genetic disorder called VPS13A. I have struggled with uncontrollable weight loss. I have been using a g tube for over 6 months and have been struggling to gain or maintain my weight .
i am currently on a very vigorous diet and I’m not sure if I can continue to do it without results. I have a follow up with my doctor to discuss my options and I don’t know how to explain that I am exhausted..

Why doesn't the esophagus go back to exactly the same way it was after the procedure. You're not cutting or stapling or stitching anything to hold it back. Some of the food that you put down your throat is the same size as those balloons so why doesn't it work when you put the food down your

[Fluffy-Tail-]

Hey Jerko: Why is the epiglottis not closing the larynx during the swallowing process?

[aldinepersha]

I just had This done last Friday and my throat stills hurts cause i had tonsil cancer and The radiation caused Burns to my neck and throat i tell you it's not a good feeling i don't think i get this done again i try throat exercises first praying for us all

[destiny]

I had experience the difficulty of swallowing either the food or liquid. Im so scared. Sometimes its hard for me to breath. The only way i did is burping. It helped a lot then within less than sec it came again. Any advice? Tomorrow will be my appt. Hope it wasnt that serious as the GP doctor said i had lump somewhere in my throat

[H.Maria]

For how many days were you in so much pain? How did you know it was not a perforation?
This was my first one so I assume I will have pain until 5-7 days ?

[neonsilver]

Two questions: 1) Does the location of the stricture matter when selecting a procedure, or is it more about whether it's a local or global stricture? 2) What kinds of damage to the esophagus can be treated with this kind of procedure, aside from a stricture? For example, in the case of GERD, where extensive stomach acid damage in the lower esophagus may cause scarring of the esophagus in the area. Could this kind of procedure help with that?

[MoonChildlove]

I'm deciding between this or poam for my child. Unfortunately, this is a rare case is kids 😢 I'm a little scared. Please pray for my child

[tartanarab]

I’m getting this done because getting dysphasia after Nissen fundoplication surgery last may.

[msmystiqueable]

I’ve had mines dilated twice they wanted to do it again ..I told them NO..to find out my symptoms had to do with a hiatal hernia ..that they knew that I already had

I’ll be going for surgery to have it repair …as this does not go away on its own nor can they with dilation and or medicine repair it omg

[thatguy]

so if i don't have one of these i'm fucked?

[reneewilliams]

Is the patient awake during this procedure?

[j.b.]

Pretty sure I need this, but the animation is great😂