ABSTRACT
Objective To compare the effect of treating cricopharyngeal achalasia in stroke survivors using transnasal or transoral balloon dilatation.Methods Thirty stroke survivors with cricopharyngeal achalasia were randomly divided into a transnasal and a transoral balloon dilatation group (group N and group O),each of 15.Both groups were given routine swallowing rehabilitation training as well as the transnasal or transoral balloon dilatation.Their heart rate was monitored during the dilatation.Nasal bleeding,mucous membrane swelling and pain were also observed.Their swallowing function was evaluated using the Fujishima Ichiro swallowing efficacy score (FISE) and videofluoroscopy (VFSS) before and after the intervention.Results After the treatment,the average FISE and VFSS scores of both groups had improved significantly comnpared to before the treatment but there were no significant differences between the groups.During the treatment,the average heart rate of group O increased significantly less than that of group N.The treatment acceptance of group O was 98.2％,significantly higher than that of group N (80.1％).One case of mucosal bleeding was observed in group O,and laryngeal edema occurred significantly less often than in group N (9 cases vs.7).The average pain score was also significantly lower in group O.Conclusions Balloon dilatation facilitates swallowing among stroke survivors with cricopharyngeal achalasia.The transoral approach can help to reduce the occurrence of complications such as mucosal bleeding,laryngeal edema and pain,and has better patient acceptance.