Endoscopic carbon dioxide laser cricopharyngeal myotomy for relief of oropharyngeal dysphagia

The condition

Dysphagia means difficulty swallowing. Oropharyngeal means the top part of the oesophagus, also known as the gullet or food pipe. It can occur in conditions such as multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease and Parkinson's disease. It can also happen after a stroke, or after radiotherapy or surgery for treating cancer in the head or neck. Sometimes the cause is unknown. One cause is spasm or scarring of the cricopharyngeal muscle, which runs around the top of the gullet. This can cause problems like coughing or choking when eating or drinking, and food or liquid going down the wrong way into the lungs leading to chest infections, and weight loss.

Treatment depends on the cause and type of dysphagia, and includes swallowing therapy (that helps the patient relearn swallowing techniques, and strengthens the muscles used for swallowing), drug therapy, dilatation (stretching of the food pipe) and open surgery through a cut in the neck.

NICE has looked at using endoscopic carbon dioxide laser cricopharyngeal myotomy as another treatment option.

NHS Choices may be a good place to find out more.