An Overview About Retrograde Cricopharyngeal Dysfunction (RCPD)

Retrograde Cricopharyngeal Dysfunction (RCPD) is characterized by the inability to burp as well as associated symptoms including loud gurgling noises, chest and abdominal pain, and excessive flatulence (Bastian & Smithson, 2019; Miller et al., 2024). It is hypothesized that RCPD is caused by inability of the cricopharyngeal sphincter to relax during esophageal distention (Alotaibi, 2023; Miller et al., 2024).

The diagnosis of RCPD is based on symptoms including the inability to burp, abdominal fullness and/or bloating, gurgling noises in the chest or lower neck, and excessive flatulence and may also include symtpoms such as chest pressure and pain (Bastian & Smithson, 2019; Rude Nijhuis et al., 2022; Karagama, 2021; Hoffman et al., 2022). Alotaibi (2023) reports, that high-resolution manometry (HRM) is the definitive modality in the diagnosis of RCPD.

Treatment for RCPD often includes the use of chemodenervation. Botulinum toxin may injected into the cricopharyngeus (CP) to address RCPD (Wajsberg et al., 2021). Additional treatment options may include balloon dilation of the CP in isolation, or in conjunction with botulinum toxin injections (Bastian & Smithson, 2019; Watson et al., 2021).

For more information, check out the references cited in this post.