Outcomes of endoscopic cricopharyngeal myotomy with CO2 laser surgery: A retrospective study of 47 patients.
BACKGROUND
Endoscopic cricopharyngeal myotomy (ECPM) using CO2 laser surgery presents a less invasive treatment technique when compared to transcervical cricopharyngeal myotomy.


METHODS
Forty-seven patients who underwent ECPM from 2002 until 2013 were included in this study. Patient characteristics, and preoperative and postoperative outcome and complications were scored by retrospective chart review and by using the Deglutition Handicap Index (DHI).


RESULTS
Overall, 40 of 47 patients (85%) experienced relief of symptoms postoperatively. Ten patients (25%) developed recurrent symptoms of dysphagia requiring re-laser surgery. All 40 patients were satisfied at the postoperative visit after an average of 1.3 interventions. DHI scores were better in patients with idiopathic dysfunction and neurologic disease, compared to dysfunction because of prior treatment of head and neck cancer. One patient developed mediastinitis that was successfully treated with antibiotics. There was no mortality.


CONCLUSION
ECPM is an effective treatment for cricopharyngeal dysfunction with a low rate of surgical morbidity and complications. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: 1022-1027, 2016.
['Hoesseini|Arta|A|', 'Honings|Jimmie|J|', 'Taus-Mohamedradja|Rabia|R|', 'van den Hoogen|Frank J A|FJ|', 'Marres|Henri A M|HA|', 'van den Broek|Guido B|GB|', 'Kalf|Hanneke|H|', 'Takes|Robert P|RP|']
D000368:Aged D000369:Aged, 80 and over D002245:Carbon Dioxide D015331:Cohort Studies D003413:Cricoid Cartilage D003680:Deglutition Disorders D004724:Endoscopy D005260:Female D006785:Hospitals, University D006801:Humans D053685:Laser Therapy D054020:Lasers, Gas D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures D000074433:Myotomy D017060:Patient Satisfaction D010609:Pharyngeal Muscles D011788:Quality of Life D012008:Recurrence D012189:Retrospective Studies D018570:Risk Assessment D016896:Treatment Outcome
outcome endoscopic cricopharyngeal myotomy complications cricopharyngeal dysfunction indication