Abstract
We reported on a surgical closure of the larynx with removal of the thyroid cartilage and the cricoid cartilage for a 23-year-old patient with intractable aspiration pneumonia complicated by severe motor and intellectual disability. We performed the new glottic closure procedure reported by Kano M et al (2008). The larynx was opened via midline thyrotomy after removing both the thyroid and cricoid cartilage to gain a wide surgical field. The edge of the bilateral vocal cords were cut and opened by a horizontal incision, and those were separated into superior and inferior mucosal flaps and sutured at the midline above and below. The sternohyoid muscle flap was inserted into the open space between the superior and inferior mucosal flaps sutures. Because of the minimal surgical trauma and highly successful outcome, this method is thought to be highly useful and safe procedure for surgical closure of the larynx in high-risk patients with severe motor and intellectual disability whose treatment options are markedly limited.
