Cricopharyngeal myotomy for the treatment of cricopharyngeal achalasia.

Three cases of cricopharyngeal achalasia are being presented. The preoperative diagnosis was established by a contrast swallow. Cricopharyngeal myotomy was performed in all patients. One child died in the postoperative period because of respiratory failure secondary to aspiration pneumonitis, whereas in the other two, symptoms were relieved, and they remain asymptomatic on follow-up.