Doctors use Botox injections to treat 'no-burp syndrome'?

In social settings, burping is often viewed as an embarrassing and off-putting behavior, making it a "faux pas."

The inability to belch can cause discomfort for some individuals, which is medically known as retrograde cricopharyngeal dysfunction (R-CPD) or "no burp syndrome."

The cricopharyngeus muscle, located in the upper esophageal sphincter, is the primary muscle responsible for the top gate of the food pipe. When there is no burp syndrome, this muscle does not relax, which can hinder the burping process, as explained by Neil Chheda, MD, an associate professor and vice chair in the department of otolaryngology and chief of the division of laryngology at UF Health in Gainesville, Florida.

According to Chheda, the condition can affect both men and women, and the risk factors are not known.

Severe challenges can arise from an inability to burp, the doctor stated.

According to Chheda, individuals who are unable to burp may experience quality of life issues, including bloating, gurgling noises, and discomfort with certain foods and drinks, such as carbonated beverages.

No burp syndrome can cause "significant psychological distress" in the affected person, according to Priya Krishna, MD, an otolaryngologist in the department of head and neck surgery at Loma Linda University in California.

The excessive gurgling and flatulence can severely impact an individual's life, making social situations embarrassing, as she told Planet Chronicle Digital.

"Those who can’t burp may report quality of life issues, such as bloating, a gurgling noise, and discomfort with certain foods and drinks."

If over-the-counter solutions, prescription medications, and lifestyle changes don't alleviate burping problems, patients may consider Botox as a possible solution, according to medical experts.

Dr. Chheda with UF Health explained that Botox works by preventing a motor nerve from releasing the chemical transmitter that signals a muscle to contract, whether it's injected into the face for cosmetic purposes or elsewhere in the body for a functional reason.

"Injecting Botox into the cricopharyngeus muscle causes it to relax, allowing the esophagus to vent."

As a result, this can help a patient burp.

As long as the Botox injection is injected into the intended muscle, it can be a safe procedure, according to Dr. Krishna of Loma Linda University, as shared with Planet Chronicle Digital.

"As all otolaryngologists are familiar with anatomy, injecting the cricopharyngeus muscle would require a surgeon with this knowledge," she stated.

An ear, nose, and throat doctor named Robert Bastian, MD, discovered the remedy at the Bastian Voice Institute in Downers Grove, Illinois.

"I specialize in laryngology, which involves the study of the voice, swallowing, upper airway, sensory neuropathic cough, and inability to burp, or R-CPD," he said to Planet Chronicle Digital. "Therefore, I consider myself a laryngologist."

Bastian claimed to have developed the technique of injecting Botox into the cricopharyngeal muscle, which relaxes the muscle and allows for burping.

What to expect from the procedure

According to Bastian, there are two ways to use Botox to cause burping.

An outpatient operating room procedure under general anesthesia.

"The doctor explained to Planet Chronicle Digital that a straightforward "scope" procedure enables visualization of the sphincter, located at the throat-esophagus junction. Subsequently, a minute needle is inserted into the muscle to administer Botox."

After the procedure, the patient must be driven home by someone due to the anesthesia.

Injecting the muscle while the patient is seated in a chair in a doctor's office is the second method.

The surgeon uses surface landmarks and three-dimensional visualization to insert a needle into the muscle on the side of the neck. An EMG device is used to monitor and verify muscle placement.

The patient can drive to and from the procedure because only local anesthesia is administered.

Bastian said it has been rewarding to pioneer the Botox method.

He shared with Planet Chronicle Digital that it has been a privilege to discover and codify the diagnosis of the disorder, spread the information to other doctors, and work with patients who have endured the suffering of this terrible condition for a long time.

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The patient of Bastian reported that the procedure was effective, as they can now burp without any gurgling and their bloating has significantly decreased, the doctor stated.

The patient reported that the procedure has significantly enhanced their daily routine.

The manufacturer of Botox and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) were contacted by Planet Chronicle Digital for comment.