[Successful treatment of dysphagia due to Wallenberg syndrome using intermittent air stretching method with balloon catheter: a case report].

A 69-year-old woman presented with dysphagia due to Wallenberg syndrome. Videofluorography revealed unilateral dysfunction of the cricopharyngeal muscle, which caused stenosis of the esophageal entrance on the affected side. Pharyngeal fiberscopy indicated that glottal function and the cough reflex were preserved and that the pharyngeal reflex was lost. The stenosis of the esophageal entrance due to dysfunction of the cricopharyngeal muscle on the affected side and the loss of the pharyngeal reflex were considered to cause the patient's dysphagia. Based on above mentioned findings, the intermittent air stretching method with balloon catheter(IASM)was performed. As a result, dysphagia showed rapid improvement without any complications such as aspiration or bleeding. Thus, the IASM may be effective in some cases of dysphagia due to Wallenberg syndrome.