Cricopharyngeal Myotomy in National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP): Complications for Otolaryngologists Versus Non-otolaryngologists

Objective: Comparing outcomes after cricopharyngeal myotomy (CM) performed by otolaryngologists (OTO) and non-otolaryngologists (NO).Methods: A retrospective analysis of the 2014-19 ACS-NSQIP database (American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program) of patients who underwent open CM (CPT code 43030) as their primary procedure. Analyzed variables include medical comorbidities, operative time, the total length of stay, readmission, reoperation, concurrent procedures, postoperative complications, and postoperative diagnoses. 183 patients were included, 97 (53%) females and 86 (47%) males. 120 had surgery by OTO and 63 by NO. Results: There were no differences in preoperative morbidity. OTO had more outpatient surgeries compared to NO (p.05). NO had more postop diagnoses of acquired diverticula and achalasia of the stomach cardia, while OTO had more diagnoses of dysphagia and muscular dystrophy (p