The kid who couldn’t burp: the management of a pediatric case of retrograde cricopharyngeal dysfunction

Abstract

Retrograde cricopharyngeal dysfunction is a newly described syndrome characterized by the inability to belch, loud abdominal gurgling, excessive flatulence, and pain or distension of the low neck, chest, or abdomen. Treatment is with botulinum toxin injection into the cricopharyngeus muscle. We present a pediatric case of this syndrome to increase awareness among the medical community and for clinicians to expand their index of suspicion for retrograde cricopharyngeal dysfunction.

Keywords:

• Abelchia
• pediatrics
• retrograde cricopharyngeal dysfunction
• upper esophageal sphincter

Disclosure statement

The authors report no funding or conflicts of interest. The patient’s legal guardian provided signed consent for the use of clinical images and specifics of medical care for this case report.