[Surgery for severe aspirations]. / Chirurgie de la déglutition dans le traitement d'aspirations récidivantes.

Severe dysphagia resulting in repeated aspirations and pneumonia are difficult to treat with swallowing therapy and surgical treatment is often required. Our study retrospectively reviews our experience with 19 such cases operated by laryngeal suspension and laryngotracheal separation. Restoration of oral nutrition was possible in 45% of laryngeal suspension cases and in 75% of laryngotracheal separation operations. These surgical techniques prevent severe aspirations while conserving phonation, contrarily to total laryngectomy. Tracheocutaneous fistulas were frequent, especially after radiation, implying that the surgical technique should be modified in the future.