n. an operation in which a stricture (usually in the small intestine) is widened by cutting it longitudinally and suturing transversely.
n. a narrowing of any tubular structure in the body, such as the oesophagus (gullet), biliary tract, bowel, ureter, or urethra. A stricture may result from inflammation, muscular spasm, growth of a tumour within the affected part, or from pressure on it by neighbouring organs. For example, a urethral stricture is a fibrous narrowing of the urethra, usually resulting from injury or inflammation. The patient has increasing difficulty in passing urine and may develop urinary *retention. The site and length of the stricture is assessed by *urethrography and urethroscopy, and treatment is by periodic dilatation of the urethra using *sounds, *urethrotomy, or *urethroplasty. Strictures in the gastrointestinal tract may be dilated by *balloons or treated surgically by *stricturoplasty or division stricturotomy. Symptomatic malignant strictures can be managed by insertion of a *stent to relieve the obstruction, especially in cases of oesophageal, colonic, or biliary strictures.... stricture
Health Encyclopedia