Center for Dysphagia and Swallowing Disorders
The Center for Dysphagia and Swallowing Disorders at Baylor Medicine in Houston, Texas is an unparalleled collaboration between multiple specialties with dedicated interests in dysphagia. We provide a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach with a team of otolaryngologists, thoracic surgeons, gastroenterologists, radiologists, speech therapists, and nutritionists to evaluate and treat patients who have difficulty swallowing food or liquids. A commitment to research, advancing medical education, and measurement of outcomes allows us to bring best-practice and state-of-the-art technologies to our patients.
The center strives to establish a diagnosis quickly and we work carefully with each patient to establish an individualized treatment plan.
Conditions We Treat
Pharyngeal Dysfunction
- Aspiration
- Cricopharyngeal bar
- Cricopharyngeal dysfunction
- Vocal cord paralysis
Esophageal Dysmotility
- Achalasia
- Dermatomyositis
- Esophagitis
- Esophagogastric junction (EGJ) outflow obstruction
- Hypercontractile esophagus (jackhammer esophagus)
- Ineffective esophageal motility
- Scleroderma
Reflux
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease
- Hiatal hernias
- Laryngoesophageal reflux
- Paraesophageal hernias
- Barrett's esophagus
- Esophageal cancer
- Esophageal diverticuli
- Esophageal strictures
- Zenker's diverticuli
Procedures
We offer the following treatments and procedures:
- Botulinum toxin (Botox) injection
- Cricopharyngeal myotomy (endoscopic/open)
- Robotic/Laparoscopic Heller myotomy
- Robotic/Laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair
- Robotic/Laparoscopic paraesophageal hernia repair
- Robotic/Laparoscopic Fundoplication (Nissen, near-Nissen, Toupet, etc.)
- Robotic/Laparoscopic LINX placement for GERD (magnetic sphincter augmentation)
- Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM)
- Speech and swallowing therapy
- Vocal injection/medialization
- Zenker’s diverticulostomy (endoscopic/open)
- Endoscopic or robotic/laparoscopic feeding tube placement
- Esophageal dilation
- Esophageal stent placement
- Photodynamic therapy
- Esophagectomy
- Minimally invasive esophagectomy
- Radiofrequency ablation of Barrett’s esophagus