Intestinal Strictures

What is a stricture?
A stricture is a narrowing of the intestinal diameter or lumen which can lead to an obstruction of intestinal contents

What are the causes of intestinal stricture?
Strictures of the large intestine may be caused by cancer, diverticulitis, ischemia (poor blood flow), Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis. Strictures of the small intestine may also be caused by cancer, Crohns disease and ischemia.

What are the signs and symptoms?

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal distention
• Constipation
• Narrowed caliber stool

How is it treated?
Some strictures may be dilated and "opened up" with a specialized balloon dilator that can be inserted through a colonoscope. Strictures of the small bowel secondary to Crohns disease may be "opened up" surgically without resecting the intestine (strictureplasty) which preserves the amount of intestine. Patients with strictures secondary to diverticulitis and colon cancer warrant an operation which we typically perform laparoscopically.