Esophageal Dilation (Balloon Dilation)

What Is Esophageal Dilation (Balloon Dilation)?

Esophageal dilation is a minimally invasive procedure that widens a tight area in the esophagus — the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. A pediatric gastroenterologist uses an upper endoscope, a thin flexible camera, to find the narrow spot. A soft balloon is placed across that spot and inflated for short periods, then deflated and removed. This stretches the tissue so food and liquids pass more easily. Children receive anesthesia, so they sleep and feel no pain during the procedure. Most procedures take less than an hour.

What Does Esophageal Dilation (Balloon Dilation) Treat?

Balloon dilation helps when swallowing is hard because the esophagus has narrowed. Common causes in children include:

• Scar tissue after repair of esophageal atresia
• Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), a condition that inflames and stiffens the esophagus
• Damage from long-standing reflux or from a swallowed caustic substance

Dilation opens the passage so your child can swallow more comfortably. If an underlying condition is present — like EoE or reflux — your child’s care team will also treat that cause to lower the chance that the narrowing returns.

What Happens Before the Procedure?

You will meet with our pediatric gastroenterology team to review symptoms, growth, medical history and medicines. The doctor may order tests such as an X-ray swallow study (esophagram or upper GI series) to map the length and tightness of the narrowing. You will receive written instructions about eating and drinking before anesthesia, what to do with morning medicines, and how to plan the day. We will discuss benefits, alternatives, and risks so you can give informed consent. Bring your questions — we will walk through each step together.

What Happens During the Procedure?

After your child is asleep, the doctor guides the endoscope through the mouth into the esophagus. Under direct view, a deflated balloon is positioned across the tight area. The balloon is inflated to a planned size for a short time — often less than a minute — then deflated. The doctor checks the tissue and may repeat this in careful steps to reach the target opening. Vital signs are continuously monitored by a pediatric anesthesia team. When the goals are met, the instruments are removed and your child is brought to recovery.

What Happens After the Procedure?

Most children go home the same day. A sore throat or mild chest discomfort is common for 24-48 hours. Clear liquids are usually allowed first, followed by soft foods, then a normal diet as directed. Your team will explain medicines for pain and any changes to treatment for EoE or reflux, likely after any biopsies collected are reviewed. Call us or seek urgent care if your child has fever, severe chest pain, trouble breathing, repeated vomiting, or trouble swallowing that does not improve. Because some strictures return, follow-up visits are important. Many children need more than one dilation to keep the esophagus open and symptoms controlled.

Why Nationwide Children’s Hospital?

At Nationwide Children’s, esophageal dilation is performed in our gastroenterology endoscopy suite or operating room, each a high-volume pediatric center that understands growing bodies and complex conditions.

Families travel from across the country and around the world for our expertise. Your child’s care is coordinated by a multidisciplinary team — pediatric GI, anesthesia, psychology, nutrition and social work — using advanced diagnostics and the highest level of expertise. We pair child-sized equipment with pediatric anesthesia and continuous monitoring to maximize comfort and safety, and we streamline access to clinic, endoscopy and imaging so recovery and follow-up move quickly. Above all, our team focuses on both relieving the narrowing and treating its cause, so results last and your child can return to everyday life.