Surgical Closure of the Larynx for Intractable Aspiration

Abstract

• Surgical closure of the glottis is reserved for patients who have suffered progressive loss of sphincteric and phonatory laryngeal function. In the prevention of life-threatening aspiration, a triplelayer closure is performed with use of a superiorly based sternohyoid muscle flap. Surgical closure is theoretically reversible should sufficient neuromuscular function return in any given patient. (Arch Otolaryngol 106:422-423, 1980)