Abstract:Objective To investigate the optimal duration of endoscopic dilation for benign anastomotic stenosis after radical resection of esophageal cancer.Methods Clinical data of 45 patients with benign anastomotic strictures after esophagectomy from January 2010 to August 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the dilation time, patients were divided into 1-min group (n = 14), 3-min group (n = 16) and 5-min group (n = 15). The clinical effects and complications were compared among the three groups.Results The median overall dysphagia-free period was 2.35 (1.00, 6.83) months in the 1-min group, 6.05 (3.08, 12.00) months in the 3-min group and 5.60 (3.40, 12.00) months in the 5-min group (P < 0.05), the dysphagia-free periods in the 3-min and 5-min groups were longer than that in the 1-min group. The stricture recurrence rate was 78.57% in the 1-min group, 56.25% in the 3-min group and 60.00% in the 5-min group. For patients who developed stricture recurrence, the mean dysphagia-free periods were (2.03 ± 1.28) months in the 1-min group, (3.72 ± 1.78) months in the 3-min group and (3.98 ± 1.60) months in the 5-min group, respectively (P < 0.05). Muscle layer damage occurred in 3 patients in the 5-min group and in no patients in the other two groups (P < 0.05).Conclusion Three min was supposed to be a safe and effective dilation duration for benign anastomotic strictures after esophagectomy.