Introduction: esophageal peptic stricture results of chronic mucosal inflammation caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease. The aim of this study is to present the experience with esophageal peptic strictures in a pediatric gastrointestinal endoscopy unit showing clinical aspects and mainly the decreasing incidence of this entity nowadays.

Methods:retrospective study from January 1996 to September 2002. The esophageal dilations were performed with Savary-Gilliard bougies. The number of the strictures per year, relatively to endoscopies number, was evaluated by qui-square test and linear tendency.

Results: in the period of 6.5 years 1,636 children and adolescents were submitted to upper digestive endoscopy. Twenty-six individuals had a peptic esophageal stricture. The ages varied between 10 months and 16 years with a mean age of 6.5 years and 69% were male patients. Thirteen patients had an associated or predisposing condition to more severe gastroesophageal reflux. There was no Barrett esophagus. We have done 69 esophageal dilations sessions (2.65/patient). One patient presented with pneumomediastine post-dilation. All the others presented a good outcome. The total number of strictures decreased with time although total number of endoscopic procedures increased.

Conclusions: dilations with Savary-Gilliard bougies were efficacious to decrease the disphagia of the esophageal peptic strictures in children. There was a decreasing incidence of peptic strictures although the increasing incidence of endoscopic examinations performed in this pediatric endoscopy unit.

Key Words: Esophageal Peptic Stricture, Disphagia, Esophageal Dilation, Upper Digestive Endoscopy, Incidence, Children.

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