Plummer vinson syndrome: Experience at a tertiary care level hospital

Aim: to measure the efficacy of upper oesophageal web dilatation with bougies in relieving dysphagia in patients of plummer vinson syndrome. methods: this quasi experimental study was carried out in ent department,lady reading hospital,peshawar from 15th january 2008 to 29th september,2009. thirty patients presenting in outpatient department of all ages and both gender having dysphagia,microcytic hypochromic anaemia and web formation in upper part of oesophagus seen on barium swallow were selected through non-probability technique. patients having dysphagia due to neurogenic causes or any malignancy were excluded from the study. all the patients underwent blood complete examination,barium swallow examination. the outcome was discussed for oesophagoscopy and web dilatation with bougies as an optimal surgical approach in patients of plummer vinson syndrome in terms of safety,efficacy,recurrence and complications. results: upper oesophageal web dilatation with bougies was found to be efficacious in the management of plummer vinson syndrome in my study. conclusion: upper oesophageal web dilatation with bougies is a safe and cost-effective procedure in early detection and treatment of plummer vinson syndrome.