PURPOSE: This study involved a prospective evaluation of the results of the ba lloon catheter dilation of lower gastrointestinal stenoses. METHODS: First a gui de-wire was introduced into the stenosis followed under x-ray control by a dou ble-lumen balloon catheter, or directly through the endoscope a balloon cathete r, with progressive dilation under pressures of 1.5 to 3 atm. The result was ass essed via the decreased indentation of the balloon and the increased diameter of the stenosis. RESULTS:Between January 1985 and November 2002, 133 dilations wer e performed on 57 patients. The cause of the stenosis was postoperative stenosis in 44 patients, Crohn’s disease in 6, ulcerative colitis in 2, postirradiative stenosis in 1, ischemic stenosis in 1, and scarring of the anus in 3 patients. Four of the st enoses were localized to the anus, 45 to the rectum, 7 to the colon, and 1 to th e terminal ileum. The average diameter of the stenosis was increased from 7.2 (r ange, 1-14) mm to 19.7 (range, 14-25) mm. Colostomies were closed in 11 of 17 cases. In five patients, the ileus state ceased, and the three colocutaneous fis tulas healed rapidly. In 17 of 57 patients, reoperation was proposed. In one pat ient, fever as a complication was treated with antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS: The dil ation of benign stenoses of the lower gastrointestinal tract with a balloon cath eter is an effective and safe method, which in most cases (70 percent) results i n long-term elimination of the obstructive symptoms, so that surgery can be avo ided. PURPOSE: This study involved a prospective evaluation of the results of the ba lloon catheter dilation of lower gastrointestinal stenoses. METHODS: First a gui de-wire was introduced into the stenosis followed under x-ray control by a dou ble-lumen balloon catheter, or directly through the endoscope a balloon cathete r, with progressive dilation under pressures of 1.5 to 3 atm. The result was asssed via the decreased indentation of the balloon and the increased diameter of the stenosis. RESULTS: Between January 1985 and November 2002, 133 dilations wer e performed on 57 patients. The cause of the stenosis was postoperative stenosis in 44 patients, Crohn’s disease in 6, ulcerative colitis in 2, postirradiative stenosis in 1, ischemic stenosis in 1, and scarring of the anus in 3 patients. Four of the st enoses were localized to the anus, 45 to the rectum, 7 to the colon, and 1 to th e terminal ileum. The average diameter of the stenosis was increased from 7.2 (rgege, 1-14) mm to 19.7(range, 14-25) mm. Colostomies were closed in 11 of 17 cases. In five patients, the ileus state ceased, and the three colocutaneous fis tulas healed rapidly. In 17 of 57 patients, reoperation was proposed. In one patient , The fever as a complication was treated with antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS: The diltion of benign stenoses of the lower gastrointestinal tract with a balloon cath eter is an effective and safe method, which in most cases (70 percent) results in long-term elimination of the obstructive symptoms, so that surgery can be avo ided.