Abstract: Background: Benign esophageal strictures (BES) may compromise quality of life (QoL) and survival in dogs and cats. Little data is available on long-term survival after management.
Hypothesis/Objectives: To describe the outcome of BES in dogs and cats treated with esophagoscopy-guided balloon dilation and identify factors influencing the outcome.
Animals: 28 dogs and 4 cats.
Methods: Retrospective analysis (2006-2022). Signalment, BES number and etiology, submucosal injection and triamcinolone acetate dose, PEG-tube placement, and number of dilations were recorded. The animals’ owners were contacted to obtain survival data and diet information. Effects of recorded variables on survival were evaluated with Cox proportional hazards regression.
Results: Median [range] values were as follows: age, 6.5 years [0.3-14]; body weight, 5.45 kg [1-37]; number of BES present at initial visit 1 [1-5]. Identified causes for BES were peri-anesthetic regurgitation (17), esophageal foreign body (8), and vomiting (7). Twenty-two animals received submucosal injections of triamcinolone (median dose 0.5 mg/kg [0.22-0.76]). A PEG-tube was placed in 11 animals. A median of 2 dilations [1-6] was performed. Follow-up data were obtained for 26 animals. Ten could eat kibbles and 16 required a soft diet. Most animals had good QoL. Median survival time was 2,746 days [11-4,191]. Increased age at the time of diagnosis negatively impacted outcome (HR 1.39, 95% CI 1.11-1.85, p=.009).
Conclusions and clinical importance: Balloon dilation afforded prolonged survival with good QoL in dogs and cats with BES. More than one procedure was required in most cases. Increased age at presentation had a negative prognostic value.
