Small Bowel and Colon

• Strictures of the small bowel or colon are relatively uncommon and are usually related to surgical anastomoses or a complication of inflammatory processes such as diverticulitis.  Because the strictured area is usually at some distance from either the mouth or the anus, it may be extremely difficult to perform the procedure solely under fluoroscopic control, and a combined endoscopic-fluoroscopic approach is almost always necessary.  Endoscopy is used to visualize the narrowed area of the gut and to guide placement of the wire into the strictured area. Once the wire enters the stenosis, the procedure is continued under fluoroscopic control, and balloon inflations are performed as described before.