Successful treatment of congenital esophageal web by endoscopic electrocauterization and balloon dilatation.

We report a 3-year-old boy who presented with a foreign body impacted in the esophagus and had a poor tolerance of solid food since he was 5 to 6 months old. In the last 2 years, he developed progressive dysphagia, anorexia, vomiting, and poor weight gain. An esophagoscopy and barium esophagogram revealed an esophageal web in the distal third of the esophagus. Three courses of endoscopic balloon dilatation resulted in transient improvement in his dysphagia and vomiting; a follow-up barium esophagogram and esophagoscopy showed limited improvement of the esophageal stenosis. Two courses of endoscopic electrocauterization and balloon dilatation improved the clinical symptoms and esophageal stenosis.