Cohort Study on the Use of the BOUGIE CAP™ Device for the Treatment of Benign and Short Esophageal Strictures

Benign esophageal strictures are a common condition with multiple and varied causes. Esophageal strictures are manifested by the appearance of dysphagia, usually when the reduction in the esophageal lumen is greater than 50%. Malnutrition and aspiration pneumonia can also occur. Quality of life can thus be significantly impaired. To date, there are multiple techniques for treating strictures. Dilation (hydrostatic or bougie) is the historical first-line treatment. The effectiveness of the 2 historical dilation methods (balloon vs bougie) is comparable, with no difference in terms of adverse effects, with robust literature on the subject. There is a new device called the BougieCap™ (Ovesco Endoscopy AG, Tubingen, Germany). It is a short, tapered, conical-shaped transparent cap that attaches to the end of the endoscope. This cap allows the treatment of short strictures, with direct visualization during dilation.

The results of this research will be used to better evaluate the performance of the Bougie Cap™ in the endoscopic dilation of short benign esophageal strictures as well as its short-term effectiveness on dysphagia. Another advantage of this device, particularly compared to older techniques, is its ecological potential (lower packaging weight).