My husband was also at Hopkins. Because of the place of the stricture at the base of the larynx and in the esophagus, he was told that nothing could be done. Do you mind telling me what doctor (ENT) you are seeing at Hopkins?

My husband is seeing Dr. Wayne Koch at Hopkins. He had a throat procedure done a week ago because of a stricture that showed up on his swallowing test (although it didn't keep food, etc. from going down and being swallowed). Dr. Koch only felt the slightest resistance with the first instrument he used in his throat so he wasn't even sure that the scar tissue that showed in the swallowing test was very subtantive. He was not planning to really try to remove it per se due to the likelihood of causing even more scar tissue. He said that sometimes the surgical instrument slices through it but in my husband's case, it didnt' seem to create much resistance so the stricture may not be the real problem. He next moved on to using the dilation instruments to see if his throat was narrowed and it wasn't. My husband's throat has been sore from the procedure so we're not really sure if it was helpful.

Nelie, My dad just had his esophagus opened and he was told that it is too constricted and he needs another procedure. It sounds like he is going to have the same thing done that you had with the two surgeons. We are going to Loyola Hospital in Chicago and I believe the two surgeons have done this procedure many times, but, I told my sister to ask how many procedures they have done(based upon your advice). Are there any doctors in the Chicago area that you or anyone else knows that are experts on this procedure. Let me know if you know anyone. Thanks.

I have this procedure every 3 months to keep my esophagus open. Some Drs act like this is major surgery when it really isn't much at all from what I see . I have been hving this since 1996 and I'm still here.

Hi....I had my first dilatation on Wednesday, I had a general anaesthetic which was good. I was very nervous, my throat is very sore so I guess I will know is a few days whether it worked or not. The surgeon told my I may have to have it done every month or so for a while, but will have to wait to see how this one went.

I have had my esophagus stretched about three times since my radiation and chemo treatments for tonsil cancer ended in January 2008. The last time was 7/17/09. My gastronterologist performed the procedure, which was called an Upper GI Endoscopy. Mine showed an esophageal stricture, which he dilated. I also had gastritis, for which he prescribed medicine. However, the procedure was very simple and I believe all I had was valium to be sedated. My throat felt a little sore for several hours afterward, and then was fine. I could really tell the difference in swallowing - he told me I should probably have the procedure done about every three months or so. Good Luck with your procedure(s).

Jim, depending on the circumstances, dilation can be a big deal and turn into major surgery while being done. My gastrodoc said that my throat was so constricted that there would be danger of piercing the tracheal-esophageal wall with an endoscope and he would prefer it be done in a hospital (I'm not sure yet if dilation is even a possibility for me -- I can't swallow anything).

Ive been following this post. I had planned on asking my doc if this was something I would have done. Thanks for posting about what to be aware of, Pete.

Mine is alway done in a hospital. They take biopsies every time too therefore the pain after for a few days. Any time they put you to sleep there is danger Pete. There is always the chance you won't wake back up. I hate to be blunt, but that's one of the chances we take.

The good news is that the more you've been put to sleep, the more likely it is that you will wake up!

Sometimes dilation is done in outpatient setting.