Hello Folks - I'm scheduled to have this procedure in July and wondered if anyone here has had one, and if so what to expect. This is laser surgery to make a cut in the cricopharyngeal muscle to help stuff go down. My ENT told me that the risk is low - about 1% of patients developed a hole in the esophagus that can be threatening (though I don't think life threatening), and that there can be some regurgitation issues as well.

I'm really hoping this will help with my ongoing (and seemingly worsening) swallowing issues.

Thanks.
David

David 2
SCC of occult origin 1/09 (age 55)| Stage III TXN1M0 | HPV 16+, non-smoker, moderate drinker | Modified radical neck dissection 3/09 | 31 days IMRT finished 6/09 | Hit 15 years all clear in 6/24 | Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome kicked in a few years after treatment and has been progressing since | Prostate cancer diagnosis 10/18