Peroral catheter balloon dilatation therapy relieves cricopharyngeal achalasia after stroke

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effects of peroral catheter balloon dilatation on patients with dysphagia caused by cricopharyngeal achalasia after stroke. Methods Thirty-two stroke survivors with cricopharyngeal achalasia were randomly divided into a control group and a treatment group, each of 16. Both groups were given routine dysphagia rehabilitation training, but the treatment group was additionally given peroral balloon dilatation therapy six times a week for 2 weeks. Both groups were given swallowing function evaluations and videofluoroscopic swallowing examinations (VFSS) before and after the treatment. Results After the treatment, 14 of the 16 patients in the treatment group demonstrated improved swallowing, significantly better than the control group, where only 9 patients had improved. The VFSS showed dysphagia to have been relieved in both groups, but significantly more in the treatment group. Transit duration in the pharnx was significantly shortened from 0.28 s to 0.16 s in the treatment group, but no significant difference was found in the control group. Conclusion Peroral catheter balloon dilatation is effective for relieving cricopharyngeal achalasia after stroke. Key words: Balloon dilatation; Stroke; Cricopharyngeal achalasia