Abstract
We report on surgical treatments for aspiration that results from functional dysphagia.
The surgical techniques can be classified into functional operations and radical operations. The functional operations support the injured function of swallowing and aim at oral feeding with no aspiration. We would need to divide the airway from the feeding tract in order to prevent aspiration in patients who complained of severe aspiration. In these cases, we might do the radical operations that could close the larynx or separate trachea and the esophagus.
The radical operations can be divided into two types in view of laryngeal preservation.
Before an operation, we need a detailed analysis of the patient's swallowing functions with fluolography, electromyography and so on. We should select one of these methods taking into account the causes of the dysphagia, the basic diseases, age, prognosis for the swallowing function, and the patient's wishes and/or life style. Finally, we should emphasis the importance of a functional analysis of a patient's swallowing before any operation, and the possibility for rehabilitation after operation.
