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Retrospective Study
Copyright: ©Author(s) 2026.
World J Gastrointest Endosc. Mar 16, 2026; 18(3): 117303
Published online Mar 16, 2026. doi: 10.4253/wjge.v18.i3.117303
Table 2 Technical outcomes, hospitalisation and stricture change, n (%)/median (25th-75th percentiles)/mean ± SD

Stent group
Bougie group
Balloon group
P value
Sessions of dilations795362
Technical success110 (81.5)43 (81.1)48 (77.4)0.5466
Sessions of stenting56
Median sessions of dilations5.0 (2.3-5.8)2.0 (1.0-3.0)2.0 (1.0-4.0)0.0818
Cumulative hospital stay (days)52.2 (25.3-75.7)12.0 (7.0-19.0)14.0 (9.8-32.9)0.0001
Average hospital stay (days)7.3 (3.2-10.1)5.1 (3.4-7.0)6.7 (4.8-11.0)0.0620
Cumulative cost (× 104 ¥)11.5 (8.1-17.1)2.5 (1.2-3.9)2.6 (1.9-5.1)< 0.0001
Average costs (× 104 ¥)1.7 ± 0.61.1 ± 0.71.6 ± 0.70.0507
Numbers of hospitalisations7.0 (5.5-11.0)2.0 (1.0-3.0)2.0 (1.0-5.0)< 0.0001
Procedure time, minutes37.0 (24.8-45.5)40.0 (30.5-57.5)35.0 (30.0-52.5)0.0763
Treatment duration, months14.6 (7.3-33.9)13.7 (4.4- 17.7)3.9 (0.4-33.2)0.1854
Initial dilation size, mm14.4 ± 3.013.3 ± 2.513.5 ± 3.20.5138
Sessions per visit1.2 ± 0.41.1 ± 0.31.2 ± 0.40.6241
Dilation interval, months2.3 (1.2-7.1)6.2 (1.4-9.7)4.4 (1.4-13.8)0.4418
Stricture rate (%)
Before dilation82.9 (77.8-88.9)80.4 (70.8-91.4)80.6 (65.9-93.4)0.5931
Post-dilation49.8 (37.4-63.5)c63.9 (40.2, 87.5)55.6 (39.6-68.8)c0.6305
Dysphagia score
Before dilation2.7 ± 1.12.3 ± 1.02.4 ± 0.70.4009
Post-dilation1.4 ± 1.5b1.2 ± 1.4a1.0 ± 1.5c0.7309
Mean diameter of stricture, mm
Before dilation3.6 ± 1.94.1 ± 2.04.0 ± 2.60.5713
Post-dilation11.1 ± 5.7c6.0 ± 6.4a8.1 ± 3.9c0.1048
Mean length of stricture, mm
Before dilation34.9 (20.6-49.4)20.0 (13.4-46.5)23.9 (16.3-45.2)0.2004
Post-dilation19.9 (0.0-29.5)c18.0 (9.4-61.0)20.0 (0.0-25.3)a0.5526


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