With a normal swallow, food, pills, and liquids are able to smoothly move from the mouth, through the esophagus, and down into the stomach without any difficulty. However, a blockage of some type can develop in the esophagus leading to food and pills getting stuck causing choking, gagging, and even regurgitation. This blockage can be due to an esophageal web, stricture, or stenosis of some type. The most common way to deal with such closures is to stretch it open. Known as esophageal dilation, this can be accomplished with bougies of increasing diameter or by inflating a balloon.
Both methods are shown in this video:
• Normal Swallow (0:00)
• Esophageal Stricture (0:21)
• Esophageal Bougies (0:46)
• Ballon Dilation (1:40)
As an aside... The lay term of "throat" stretch is not technically correct as the stretch is not actually occurring in the throat... but in the esophagus!
More info on swallowing difficulties other than stricture:
• Swallowing Problems or...
Exercises to help with swallowing problems: • Exercises and Postures...
More general info on swallow: www.FauquierENT.net/swallow.htm
Video created by Dr. Christopher Chang:
www.FauquierENT.net
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#throatstretch #esophagealdilation #esophagealstricture #dysphagia #choking #swallowing