Dilation of Strictures in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Who, When and How

Gastrointest Endosc Clin N Am. 2016 Oct;26(4):739-59. doi: 10.1016/j.giec.2016.06.011.

Abstract

Stricture formation occurs in up to 40% of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Patients are often symptomatic, resulting in significant morbidity, hospitalizations, and loss of productivity. Strictures can be managed endoscopically in addition to traditional surgical management (sphincteroplasty or resection of the affected bowel segments). About 3% to 5% patients with IBD develop primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), which results in stricture formation in the biliary tree, managed for the most part by endoscopic therapies. In this article, we discuss endoscopic management of strictures both in the alimentary tract and biliary tree in patients with IBD and/or PSC.

Keywords: Anastomoses; Biliary strictures; Dilation; Needle knife; Strictures.

MeSH terms

  • Bile Ducts / pathology
  • Bile Ducts / surgery
  • Cholangitis, Sclerosing / etiology
  • Cholangitis, Sclerosing / pathology
  • Cholangitis, Sclerosing / surgery*
  • Constriction, Pathologic / surgery
  • Dilatation / methods*
  • Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / methods*
  • Humans
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / complications
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / pathology*
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / surgery*
  • Intestines / pathology
  • Intestines / surgery