Endoscopic carbon dioxide laser cricopharyngeal myotomy for relief of oropharyngeal dysphagia

The committee noted that the available studies included patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia with a number of different underlying causes. It noted that the procedure could have different safety profiles for patients with and without associated pharyngeal diverticula, and that it could have relatively poor efficacy in patients with dysphagia after radiotherapy.

The committee was advised that endoscopic carbon dioxide laser cricopharyngeal myotomy may offer the possibility of treatment to patients with severe oropharyngeal dysphagia for whom there are no other options.