Pitfalls and complications of cricopharyngeal myotomy.

Despite a meticulous operative technique, complications still may occur following cricopharyngeal myotomy. In our series of 205 patients, infection was seen in 11 patients (5.3%) with fistula formation for two patients (1.0%). These complications were seen more frequently in patients treated for a pharyngoesophageal diverticulum. Mortality directly related to the surgical procedure was seen in three patients (1.4%), all suffering from muscular dystrophy.