SURGICAL TREATMENT OF SWALLOWING DISORDERS
Selected patients who fail conservative treatment of swallowing disorders may benefit from a variety of surgical procedures. Procedures such as tracheotomy or gastrostomy serve as temporizing measures, while the patient recovers his or her swallowing function. Specific deficiencies of the laryngeal sphincter can be addressed using vocal fold injections or laryngeal framework surgery that complements compensatory mechanisms offered by other nonsurgical methods. Other specific pharyngeal and esophageal conditions, such as uncontrolled gastroesophageal reflux or Zenker’s diverticulum, are better addressed with primary surgery. This section provides a discussion of the historical background, indications, patient selection, surgical techniques, and possible complications of the most common surgical procedures used for the treatment of swallowing disorders.