Abstract
We performed laryngotracheal separation in four patients with intractable aspiration. All four patients could eat post orally and did not suffer from postoperative aspiration pneumonia. There are other surgical procedures for intractable aspiration which do not preserve vocal function, such as tracheoesophageal diversion (Lindeman, 1975), laryngeal closure and total laryngectomy. We considered this procedure to be simpler, more effective and generally more acceptable. Neither bad breath nor laryngeal reflex resulted. This procedure can theoretically restore the larynx after surgery if the patient's aspiration improves, but practically we never have experienced the case.
