Bougienage refers to a medical procedure that utilizes a bougie, which is a slender rod made from materials like rubber, plastic, metal, or others. This instrument is inserted by a doctor into or through a body passage, such as the esophagus, to expand the passage, facilitate the insertion of other instruments, or remove an obstruction. The term can also be spelled "bouginage."Bougies come in various sizes and levels of flexibility, and they might simply be a basic cylinder. However, they can also include additional features such as: (1) an inflatable balloon to exert pressure on blockages or constricted areas; (2) a gauge to monitor the pressure applied by the balloon; (3) a wire to guide other tools at the site of a stricture or blockage; (4) a channel for injecting dye to help visualize a location on a fluoroscope; and (5) a light to illuminate the passage for examination purposes.
