Abstract
We report a case presenting repeated serious aspiration-related pneumonia which was uncontrollable by any conservative treatments. After a tracheoesophageal anastomosis procedure, the patient gained clear utterance. The case is a 4-years-old female infant whose growth and development were almost normal. Since birth, she was apt to choke and was diag nosed with paralysis of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve. She had been suffering from frequent episodes of febrile illness and an upper respiratory tract inflammation, and was referred to our hospital at age 2 y and 6 m because of poor oral intake. We performed a tracheostomy and gastrostomy at age 2 y and 7 m, however, no improvement was noticed in vomiting caused by GER. Then, we performed a Nissen type fundoplication. Poor oral intake and frequent episodes of serious aspiration-related pneumonia required us to performed a tracheoesophageal anastomosis procedure at age 3 y and 3 m. Utterance using the esophagus and the vocal cords was acquired three months after the operation, Now, the patient is 4 y and 3 m old, and her conversation level does not cause a hindrance in everyday life.
