A swallowing disorder is a condition in which a person has difficulty passing food, liquid or saliva from the mouth to the stomach. This can seriously affect quality of life and lead to various health problems.

Symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, feeling of tightness in the throat, regurgitation of food, frequent feeling of suffocation, weight loss and cough may be observed.

Swallowing disorder surgery is often necessary when other treatment methods are inadequate, especially when there is an anatomical obstacle or severe muscular problems.

Swallowing disorder surgery involves corrective procedures in the throat and oesophagus to improve swallowing function. These procedures can be performed by open surgery or minimally invasive techniques.

As with any surgical procedure, there are risks such as infection, bleeding, anaesthesia-related risks and wound healing problems at the surgical site. However, these risks are rare.

The healing process varies depending on the surgical method. Usually, a recovery period of several days to several weeks is required. During this period, special diets and rehabilitation may be required to regain swallowing function.

After a successful surgical intervention, the majority of patients observe a marked improvement in swallowing function. Long-term results depend on the type of surgical intervention and the patient’s general state of health.

In the early postoperative period, liquid and soft diets are recommended. In time, transition to solid foods is made. Nutritional habits should be regulated by a specialised dietician after surgery.

Surgery for swallowing disorders is usually performed by otolaryngologists, general surgeons or gastroenterologists.