Outcomes of Combined Antegrade–Retrograde Dilations for Radiation-Induced Esophageal Strictures in Head and Neck Cancer Patients

The purpose of this study is to analyze outcomes of combined antegrade–retrograde dilations (CARD). This retrospective study was conducted on 14 patients with a history of head and neck cancer, treated with radiation therapy that was complicated by either complete or near-complete esophageal stenosis. All patients had minimal oral intake and depended on a gastrostomy tube for nutrition. Swallow function before and after CARD was assessed using the Functional Oral Intake Scale, originally developed for stroke patients and applied to head and neck cancer patients. Patients undergoing CARD demonstrated a quantifiable improvement in swallow function (p = 0.007) that persisted at last known follow-up (p = 0.015) but only a minority (23.1%) achieved oral intake sufficient to obviate the need for tube feeds. Complication rates were 24% per procedure or 36% per patient, almost all complications required procedural intervention, and all complications occurred in patients with complete stenosis. Our study suggests further caution when considering CARD, careful patient selection, and close post-operative monitoring.