[Myotomy of the cricopharyngeal muscle]

Eleven patients who underwent cricopharyngeal myotomy from 1980 to 1990 at the Department of ENT, Head and Neck Surgery, KUL are reviewed. This procedure has been performed for swallowing and/or aspiration disorders due to dysfunction of varied etiology of m. cricopharyngeus. Our results indicate that only patients with a satisfactory pharyngeal motion and coordination and no cricopharyngeal relaxation are proven candidates for cricopharyngeal myotomy. Patients with Zenker's diverticulum were not taken into account. Nine out of 11 patients improved after cricopharyngeal myotomy. Careful interpretation of cineradiographic examination allows refinement of case selection.