A novel treatment of congenital duodenal stenosis: Image-guided treatment of congenital and acquired bowel strictures in children

Background: Image-guided balloon dilatation has been used in adults as an alternative to standard surgical treatment of intestinal stricture. The experience in children is limited. We report our results with this procedure in the management of both congenital and acquired intestinal stenosis in children. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was done of children younger than 2 years of age who underwent balloon dilatation of small and large intestinal stenosis between 1994 and 2003. Results: Eleven children underwent dilatation during the study period. Two of these children had congenital duodenal stenosis, and this represents the first report of nonoperative management of this condition. Three children underwent dilatation of small bowel strictures and 6 had dilatation of colonic and rectal strictures. Necrotizing enterocolitis was the most common (6/9) etiology of stricture. Ten of 11 patients did not require subsequent operative management although 3 children required further dilatations. The mean follow-up was 36.5 months (range, 13 days-103 months). One patient underwent a subsequent dilatation that was unsuccessful, and required operative resection of a 5-cm stricture. There was one complication, a small leak that was managed nonoperatively. Conclusion: Image-guided balloon dilatation holds promise as an alternative to surgical treatment in children with congenital or acquired stenosis of the small or large bowel, and should be considered in select patients with short strictures.