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Procedure - Dilation and Stenting
What to Expect: Dilation and Stenting
In our Esophagus Center, we pride ourselves in letting treatment decisions be guided by what’s best for our patients. This philosophy often eliminates the need for complex surgeries.
If dilation and stenting are right for you, here's what to expect:
- We give you medication to help you relax, so you won’t feel any discomfort during your procedure (conscious sedation).
- Accessing your esophagus with the endoscope, we start by examining your strictures and determining which dilation tool to use. We may use a thin plastic tube (bougie) or dilating balloon (pneumatic dilation).
- Using a special delivery system attached to the endoscope, we advance the dilation tool down your throat to your stricture and slowly expand it to widen your esophagus.
- You may experience mild pressure in the back of your throat or in your chest.
- You are now ready for stenting.
- Using the camera attached to the endoscope, we carefully insert and position a stent to reinforce the widened area of your esophagus.
- Once in place, the stent gently expands to hold your esophagus open.
- You can go home after your anesthetic wears off. You may have a sore throat for a few days.
You can expect to consume only liquids and soft foods in the days following your procedure. As your esophagus heals, you can go back to eating normal foods. However, your stent is not as flexible as normal esophagus tissue, so you’ll need to take care when eating certain foods.
Our experts from GI Nutrition Services will help you find foods you like to eat during each phase of your recovery and can teach you special techniques to avoid getting food stuck in your stent.