Surgery to Prevent Aspiration

• A glottic closure procedure rather than laryngectomy is suggested for patients with loss of laryngeal sphincter function. The operation allows restoration of respiration and swallowing without aspiration, but sacrifices phonatory function. No patient has had sufficient recovery of laryngeal sphincteric function to warrant an attempt to reverse the laryngeal closure operation. ( Arch Otolaryngol 101:679-682, 1975)