The function of an intralesional steroid injection (ISI) in the treatment of anastomotic stricture in esophageal atresia patients is currently unknown. The purpose of this research was to assess the efficacy and safety of ISI. Between 2010 and 2017, 158 individuals with esophageal atresia who had at least one ISI for the treatment of esophageal anastomotic stricture were found. The difference in stricture diameter (D) between procedures with dilatation alone (ISI) and dilation with steroid injection (ISI+) was examined. There were a total of 1055 balloon dilations done. The ISI+ group had a substantially higher median D: 1 mm versus 0 mm. At the following endoscopy, the ISI+ group had a higher percentage of improved diameters and a lower percentage of unchanged and reduced diameters. With an adjusted odds ratio of 3.24, multivariable logistic regression showed the importance of ISI in increasing the chance of improved stricture diameter. D was higher for the first three ISI+ operations than for subsequent ISI+ treatments: 1 mm versus 0.5 mm. There was no difference in the frequency of perforation between the ISI+ and ISI groups.
ISI combined with dilatation improved anastomotic stricture diameter more than dilation alone. The advantage of ISI vs dilatation was confined to the first three ISI operations.
