The risk of esophageal perforation following endoscopic balloon dilation for achalasia is in the range of 1%-5%, with a mortality rate of 1%-20%. Perforations need to be recognized early, and, if reasonable, an immediate endoscopic repair should be pursued quickly. Herein, we report a case of successful endoscopic closure by clipping of a large iatrogenic perforation in a patient with achalasia...

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS To provide the final results from the REMODEL (randomized evaluation of maxillary antrostomy versus ostial dilation efficacy through long-term follow-up) full-study cohorts and perform meta-analyses of standalone balloon sinus dilation studies to explore long-term outcomes in a large patient sample. STUDY DESIGN Randomized controlled trial and meta-analysis. METHODS Fi...

AIM To investigate the safety and effectiveness of endoscopic therapy with a paclitaxel-eluting balloon (PEB) for biliary anastomotic stricture (AS) after liver transplantation (LT). METHODS This prospective pilot study enrolled 13 consecutive eligible patients treated for symptomatic AS after LT at the University Hospital of Münster between January 2011 and March 2014. The patients were trea...

BACKGROUND Microsensor navigation has the potential to aid balloon sinus ostial dilation by providing real-time tracking of balloon devices within the complex anatomy of the sinonasal cavities. OBJECTIVE This feasibility study evaluated the incorporation of a new microsensor technology into a flexible guidewire for use with current instruments in balloon sinus ostial dilation. METHODS A ret...

Balloon dilation may offer a more expedient and cost-effective treatment method compared with traditional endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic maxillary atelectasis. We sought to demonstrate the feasibility of balloon dilation of the maxillary os as a treatment modality for patients with chronic maxillary atelectasis by investigating the short-term outcomes in a retrospective case series of 4 p...

Post-radiation stricture is a rare complication after pelvis irradiation, but must be in the mind of the clinician evaluating a lower gastrointestinal obstruction. Endoscopy has gained an important role in chronic radiation proctitis with several therapeutic options for management of intestinal strictures. The treatment of rectal strictures has been limited to surgery with high morbidity and mo...

Background and study aims  Endoscopic removal of biliary stones has high success rates, ranging between 85 % to 95 %. Nevertheless, some stones may be challenging and different endoscopic methods have evolved. Papillary large balloon dilation after sphincterotomy is a widely used technique with success rates ranging from 68 to 90 % for stones larger than 15 mm. Cholangioscopy allows performing ...

Recently, balloon enteroscopy has made possible the use of endoscopic approaches to the surgically reconstructed intestine [1–4], so that hepaticojejunostomy strictures can be treated endoscopically. We describe the successful endoscopic dilation of a severe hepaticojejunostomy stricture with a wire-guided diathermic dilator (6-Fr, 180-cm Cysto-Gastro-Set; Endo-flex, Voerde, Germany) (●" Fig.1)...

CT computed tomography DGW double guidewire EPBD endoscopic papillary balloon dilation ESGE European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy ERCP endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography NSAID nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug PEP post-ERCP pancreatitis PGW pancreatic guidewire RCT randomized controlled trial SOD sphincter of Oddi dysfunction SOM sphincter of Oddi manometry ULN upper limi...