Abstract: Objective To investigate the curative effect of catheter balloon dilatation combined with forced swallowing in the elderly patients with cricopharyngeus muscle dysfunction. Methods A total of 32 elderly patients with cricopharyngeus muscle dysfunction diagnosed by video swallowing angiography (VFSS) were divided into study group and control group according to the hospitalization order, with 16 cases in each group. The study group was treated with catheter balloon dilatation combined with forced swallowing, while the control group was treated with routine swallowing rehabilitation. Both groups received neuromuscular electrical stimulation. Before treatment and after 6 weeks of oral feeding or treatment, the clinical evaluation criteria and VFSS were used to evaluate dysphagia, and the changes of swallowing function were analyzed and compared. Results The effective rate of study group was 93. 75%,which was significantly higher than that of the control group(75. 0%). After treatment, the VFSS examination showed the opening, leakage and aspiration of annular pharynx muscle in the two groups were significantly improved, especially in the study group (P<0. 05). Conclusions Balloon dilatation combined with forced swallowing is superior to conventional swallowing rehabilitation in improving the cricopharyngeus muscle dysfunction in the elderly.

Key words: catheter balloon dilatation, cricopharyngeus muscle dysfunction, forced swallowing, aged