Can the anastomotic stricture be dilated after colon surgery?

       Postoperative anastomotic stricture is not an uncommon complication after bowel cancer surgery, whether by manual anastomosis or anastomosis. The main symptoms are difficulty in defecation, dyspareunia, small and time-consuming stool strips, frequent stools, feeling of incompletion after stool with abdominal distension and perineal drop, and even chronic intestinal obstruction or even acute intestinal obstruction, which seriously affects the quality of life and even threatens patients’ lives.  According to clinical experience, the main causes of anastomotic stenosis are: 1. infection around the anastomosis: some patients develop postoperative anastomotic fistula followed by chronic infection and inflammation of the surrounding tissue, followed by extensive proliferation of fibrous tissue and progressive stenosis; 2. anastomotic ischemia and tension: local ischemia of the anastomosis, plus the closer the anastomosis is to the anal opening, if there is a certain tension, the possibility of stenosis will increase; 3. The anastomotic tissue is squeezed too tightly when anastomosing the two parts of the intestinal segment, and there is partial healing of the mucosa in layers, or scar formation; 4. Improper selection of the anastomosis, such as choosing a small one; 5. Both the tumor pelvis and the anastomosis recurrence may lead to local stenosis formation.  Once stenosis formation is determined, there are two options for treatment: surgical and non-surgical: usually we will give priority to non-surgical treatment. The main non-surgical treatments are transanal metal dilator dilation, finger dilation, balloon dilation using a foley catheter and transendoscopic balloon dilation. The advantages of non-surgical treatment are that it does not require hospitalization, it can be done on an outpatient basis or at home on its own, it can be repeated, the treatment does not require special preparation, and it is also less expensive, less painful and safer. The signs of effective treatment are the disappearance of the anastomotic stenosis ring, dilatation of the anastomosis, and smooth fecal and gas drainage. Possible complications are rectal bleeding, postoperative stool irritation and, very rarely, hemorrhage and intestinal perforation. The specific choice of method depends on the actual experience and understanding of your condition of the doctor at the hospital you choose.