Cricopharyngeal myotomy: treatment of dysphagia.

Six patients are presented who underwent cricopharyngeus myotomy for dysphagia. The clinical history and cine studies appear to be the most useful assessments in defining patients with dysphagia who may improve after a myotomy. Etiological factors which may precipitate poor coordination of the swallowing mechanism and a relative cricopharyngeus muscle obstruction include neuromuscular disorders, radical oral surgery, central nervous disease, and idiopathic disorders, although the exact physiology of the cricopharyngeus muscle in health and disease is not as yet delineated, the muscle is being implicated in many problems as the inciting factor of upper esophageal dysphagia. The operation of cricopharyngeus myotomy is a relatively simple procedure and should be done with little morbidity and mortality in properly selected cases.