Dyskinesia of the superior oesophageal sphincter: assessment and treatment.

Pharyngo-oesophageal dyskinesias present a common symptomatology associated with those difficulties in swallowing for which the radio-manometric assessment is well known. Radiology, nevertheless, with an overall analysis of deglutition and its iatrogenic complications, as well as manometry of the superior oesophageal sphincter (OSS) with its diversity of results, according to the material, techniques, age, sex and stress involved, has convinced us of the necessity for a supplementary dynamic examination. Electromyography (EMG), simultaneously by the inferior constrictor (IC) and cricopharyngeal (CP) muscles, analyses with precision the electric activity of these two muscles, as well as the pharyngosphincteral synchronism. It is an easy examination, reproducible and without complications. In less than one year, nineteen patients suffering exclusively from a pharyngo-oesophageal dyskinesia benefited by this complete assessment. The secondary aetiologies are clearly predominant. Gastro-oesophageal reflux represents a quarter of those detected by an anamnesis alone. EMG detects 68% of functional anomaly of the OSS; manometry finds 47% and radiology 32%. Extramucosal myotomy of the OSS concerns incomplete or uncoordinated relaxation, preferentially by left cervical approach. The preliminary results, both clinical and manometric, are very satisfactory.