Severe Refractory Post-Radiation Strictures: Lessons Learned from Long-term Follow-up after Combined Antegrade Retrograde Dilation

Dysphagia with an identifiable stricture occurs frequently following chemoradiation therapy for head/neck cancer patients, some developing complete obliteration of the esophageal lumen. Combined Antegrade Retrograde Dilation (CARD) is designed to restore luminal patency. This paper reports how experience at one institution shaped a more effective strategy for the long-term management of this difficult patient population.

Twenty patients, mean age 62.6 years, initially undergoing CARD procedure, subsequently required a total of 278 dilation sessions (average 13.9 sessions/patient) performed on average every 8.2 weeks (range 2.7–12.6). All patients achieved luminal patency. Complications occurred in 7 patients (35.0% of patients, 2.5% of all procedures) and included traumatic bleeding, pneumothorax, overt esophageal perforation, microscopic perforation with cervical osteomyelitis, and perforation at the gastrostomy site. Diet and dysphagia scores were ineffective at directing the schedule for maintenance dilation.

The CARD procedure is effective at restoring initial esophageal patency, but must be followed closely with long-term maintenance dilation. Over a large number of dilations, complications are infrequent and difficult to predict. Their incidence may be reduced by use of prophylactic antibiotics, prior removal of a tracheoesophageal prosthesis, avoiding dilation of the gastrostomy tract, modest dilation goal, and scheduled “stricture surveillance” with dilations performed under fluoroscopic guidance.