Endoscopic dilatation is a reference, first-line, simple, and effective technique used in the management of symptomatic digestive strictures. The objective of our study was to identify the indications for these dilatations and to evaluate their outcomes.

This was a retrospective, descriptive, monocentric study conducted over a 6-year period (January 2019 to November 2025) in the endoscopy unit of the Department of Hepato-Gastroenterology and Proctology. It included patients who underwent endoscopic dilatation for digestive strictures. Dilatations performed using metallic or plastic stents were excluded. The collected variables included demographic data, the location and type of stricture, the type of dilatation, the mean number of dilatation sessions, and the success and failure rates.

A total of 72–74 patients underwent 132–139 endoscopic dilatations. The mean age was 43.8 years, ranging from 17 to 84. A male predominance was observed with 41 men (55.4%) and 33 women (44.6%), corresponding to a male-to-female ratio of 1.24.Stricture locations were esophageal in 35 cases (50%), gastric in 1 case (1.35%), pyloro-bulbar in 17 cases (22.9%), small bowel in 4 cases (5.4%), colonic in 6 cases (8.1%), rectal in 2 cases (2.7%), and anal in 2 cases (2.7%). In addition, 5 patients (6.8%) presented with an ileocolic anastomotic stricture, and 2 patients (2.7%) had an ileorectal anastomotic stricture.

Indications for dilatation included peptic strictures in 25 cases (35.1%), strictures related to inflammatory bowel disease in 17 cases (22.9%), achalasia in 10 cases (13.5%), tumoral strictures in 5 cases (6.8%), Plummer–Vinson syndrome in 4 cases (5.4%), and post-radiation strictures in 3 cases (4.1%).Four postoperative strictures (5.4%) were also dilated, including three esophageal strictures (4.1%) and one gastric stricture (1.35%) after sleeve gastrectomy. Additional indications included caustic esophageal strictures in two patients (2.7%), a post-band-ligation esophageal stricture in one patient (1.3%), an infectious colonic stricture due to intestinal tuberculosis in one patient (1.3%), and a stricture over an esophageal stent.

The types of dilatation performed were hydrostatic balloon dilatation (TTS) in 56 patients (75.7%), pneumatic dilatation in 9 patients (12.1%), and Savary bougie dilatation in 9 patients (12.1%). The mean number of dilatation sessions was 2.3 (range: 1–8).Clinical evolution showed a success rate of 95.9% (71 patients). Three cases (4.1%) of failure were reported due to refractory strictures after multiple sessions. Four strictures (5.4%) were recurrent. Three endoscopic dilatations (4.1%) were complicated by perforation, which was treated with clipping.

Endoscopic management of digestive strictures remains the reference therapeutic approach. The choice of technique depends on the etiology and location of the stricture. Nevertheless, some strictures may recur or become refractory, which may require surgical intervention.