Abstract
Laryngo-tracheal separation or tracho-esophageal diversion (original Lindeman's method and our modified method) was applied in 26 patients with intractable aspiration in Kurashiki Central Hospital from September 1997 to February 2005. We evaluated the surgical results based on patient satisfaction. Surgery decreased the frequency of sputum suction in most of the patients, and prevented the incidence of aspiration pneumonia in all patients. In 12 of 18 patients every meal was cleared orally without difficulty following the surgery. Individual swallowing potency and level of consciousness significantly affected post-operative oral food intake. Minor postoperative complications such as fistula at the proximal tracheal edgeoccurred in 6 patients. Most of the problems could be controlled by conservative therapy or minor revision surgery. There was no difference between the outcomes of separation surgery and diversion surgery in this series. We concluded that laryngo-tracheal separation/diversion surgery definitely benefited the quality of life for the patients with intractable aspiration as well as their families.
