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Esophageal Self Dilation Therapy: An Effective Alternative
Many patients have difficulty swallowing due to narrowing of the esophagus. Benign esophageal strictures can be challenging to treat, with the main treatment being endoscopic dilations. Often, repeated upper endoscopies are required to maintain successful swallowing. These procedures are costly and their efficacy can be short-lived. Gastroenterologists at Mayo Clinic offer a more convenient and effective method that may lessen the frustrations and challenges of repeated endoscopies–esophageal self dilation therapy or ESDT.
Esophageal self-dilation involves teaching the patient how to dilate their esophagus orally, on a routine basis with the help of a simple medical device–a polyvinyl dilator. Besides being successful, researchers also found that ESDT could lead to the removal of feeding tubes that were previously required to get food into the gastrointestinal tract.
Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist, Dr. Magnus Halland, M.D., encourages patients with swallowing difficulties due to narrowing of the esophagus, to visit Mayo Clinic to see if they may be candidates to learn ESDT. Dr. Halland also talks about the open clinical trial linked to ESDT at Mayo Clinic.
Meet other people talking about esophageal disorders on Mayo Clinic Connect. Here are some discussions you might like to view–join the conversation, share experiences, ask questions, and discover your support network...
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We were fitted with ours by a thoracic surgeon who specializes in esophageal strictures amongst other things. We use a 46 and so far it’s been a life saver.
We insert up to the white 35 mark as directed by the doctor. I coat the dilator with KY jelly. My husband takes a few deep breaths and I lay it on his tongue and direct him to swallow. As soon as he swallows I know it’s going in correctly and I ease it down quickly until the 35 is at his lip. As it’s going down I coach him to breathe around it, very important not to hold your breath! Then I count to 10 and pull it out. The whole thing takes 20 seconds and the swallow has to be timed exactly right to when I start easing it down. You should not have to push!
You may want to look at a product on Amazon called Healios, it’s made by a doctor and provides nutrients to the esophagus for people who’ve had radiation. My husband finds it soothing before or after dialsting.
Hope this helps
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1 ReactionThank you. My wife is a nurse and she will be present when my doctor teaches me and I hope her experience in the medical field will help. My speech therapist (swallow therapy) actually told me about Healios but I haven't tried it. I will try to get on here and update after I learn. 🙂
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1 ReactionHi @rlp63
I noticed that you wished to post a URL to a video with your post. You will be able to add URLs to your posts in a few days. There is a brief period where new members can't post links. We do this to deter spammers and keep the community safe. Clearly the link you wanted to post is not spam. Please allow me to post it for you.
Esophageal Self Dilation
https://youtu.be/jillwpNQQeQ
RLP, Would you also like to connect with others who have had tonsil cancer in the Head & Neck Cancer group? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/head-neck-cancer/
Thank you
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1 ReactionI am planning on asking my Dr. about this when I go in for my next dilation the end of Nov. TYVM for the details!!!
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1 ReactionHello today's date is June 15th 2022, and I am going through esophageal dilation and I am now using the home therapy with a self dilation device twice a day and I want to let you know that as difficult as it is to even think about doing this, It is equally as difficult to actually attempt it, but it is all in your head I'm here to tell you that, and you can get past it when You realize that the alternative is worse. The first words out of my mouth when I seen the video in my doctor's office at Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota of how to do it was "no way give me a feeding tube" , but then I realized I can't breathe through my stomach and if I ever was in an accident God forbid I couldn't be intubated safely. So I agreed to give the home self dilator a try or at least try it while sitting in my doctor's office and I was able to do it after a few tries by myself, but I was so terrified and turned off at the thought of it that all the way home I said to my husband "I can't I can't I can't" . However when I got home I was able to do it the first time with just two slight gags, and each day since has gotten easier and I've gotten into a routine. Once you have a routine established it becomes just like anything else take your morning shower, make your pot of coffee, do yourself dilation, have your breakfast and it becomes part of your new normal and you don't even think about it. This is hopefully just a little encouragement for those of you who have not tried it or are thinking about trying it but don't know if you can, yes you can.
Peggy
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5 Reactions@peggyschr, what a great story. Love your attitude!
The tip of incorporating self-dilation into your establish routine is very wise. How long does it take each day? How long have you been doing this?
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1 ReactionI've been doing it for a month, twice a day, and it only takes me 30 seconds.
Peggy
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3 ReactionsMay I ask what led to your needing esophageal dialation?
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1 ReactionI am about to undergo the self dilatation therapy.
I had one question.
As you pass the Dilator , do you try to swallow it as it goes down to avoid it entering your airway ??????