Endoscopic cricopharyngeal myotomy

Endoscopic cricopharyngeal myotomy is becoming an accepted alternative to trancervical myotomy. The operative time is shorter; the morbidity is minimized and complications are comparable if not less frequent and severe than the transcervical approach. An improved understanding of the anatomy posterior to the cricopharyngeus as well as detailed illustration of the surgical technique may serve to decrease surgeons' hesitancy in adopting this technique and increase its general acceptance as a viable alternative to transcervical cricopharyngeal myotomy.