Endoscopic balloon catheter dilatation via retrograde or static technique is safe and effective for cricopharyngeal dysfunction

Table 1 Patient demographics n (%)

Patients undergoing UES dilatation	n = 31
Age, yr, median (range)	63 (27-81)
Sex
Male	17 (55)
Female	14 (45)
Indications
Radiographic CP hypertrophy with dysphagia	22 (71)
Endoscopic UES tightness with dysphagia	3 (10)
Inclusion body myositis with dysphagia and prominent cricopharyngeus	3 (10)
Globus sensation with evidence of UES dysfunction	2 (6)
Obstruction to echocardiography probe with CP bar, but otherwise asymptomatic	1 (3)
Presence of oropharyngeal dysfunction	16 (52)
Presence of Zenker’s diverticulum	7 (23)

UES: Upper esophageal sphincter; CP: Cricopharyngeal.

Table 2 Balloon dilatation procedural details n (%)

	Enrolled (n = 31)
Number of procedures per patient, median (range)	1 (1-3)
Type of initial dilatation
Retrograde (brusque pull-back)	24 (77)
Static (sequential distention)	7 (23)
UES dilatation alone	20 (65)
Concurrent dilatation of the UES and other portions of the esophagus	11 (35)
Maximal diameter size, median (range)	20 mm (15-20 mm)
Total Number of complications	1 (3)
Serious complications requiring hospitalization	0

UES: Upper esophageal sphincter.

Table 3 Predictors of clinical response n (%)

Characteristic	Clinical response		P value
	Y (19)	N (5)
Age, mean ± SD	61.9 ± 11.9	66.4 ± 22.4	0.48
Sex, Male	10 (53)	2 (40)	0.68
Technique
Retrograde	16	3	0.49
Static	3	2
Maximal dilator size (mean ± SD, mm)	19.2 ± 1.4	19.6 ± 0.9	0.25
Oropharyngeal dysfunction	11 (58)	2 (40)	0.68
Zenker’s diverticulum	4 (21)	2 (40)	0.45