The Long-term Efficacy of Botulinum Toxin Injection to Treat Retrograde Cricopharyngeus Dysfunction

OBJECTIVES: To report the percentage of patients with symptom relief 6 or more months after botulinum toxin injection into the cricopharyngeus muscle for retrograde cricopharyngeus dysfunction (R-CPD). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series of consecutively treated patients. SETTING: Tertiary care laryngology clinic. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A review was performed of the first 200 patients who were diagnosed with R-CPD and treated with botulinum toxin injection into the cricopharyngeus muscle by a single surgeon. The study group was limited to those for whom a minimum of 6 months has elapsed since the injection. Items assessed were efficacy, safety, complications, and duration of benefit. RESULTS: Of 200 patients treated, (99.5%) gained the ability to burp and 95% experienced relief of the cardinal symptoms of R-CPD: inability to belch, socially awkward gurgling noises, abdominal/chest pressure and bloating, and excessive flatulence. For those who experienced relief, 159 (79.9%) maintained a satisfactory ability to burp after 6 months. Of those who did not maintain the ability, 12 underwent a second injection, 1 patient underwent 3 subsequent injections, and 3 patients underwent partial myotomy. No patients experienced complications of botulinum toxin injection itself, and 4 patients had complications from esophagoscopy or anesthesia. CONCLUSION: In a case series of 200 patients with retrograde cricopharyngeus dysfunction, 99% experienced relief of the cardinal symptoms and 79.9% experienced lasting relief of their symptoms beyond pharmacologic duration of action after a single injection of botulinum toxin into the cricopharyngeus muscle. Relief can be reestablished in the remainder via additional injection or cricopharyngeus myotomy.