Function of Transplanted and Denervated Larynges: II. Arytenoidectomy With Sensory Reinnervation

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Abstract
Unilateral arytenoidectomy with sensory reinnervation was tested as a means of restoring defective respiratory and swallowing function to totally denervated canine larynges. Of seven surviving test animals, three had arytenoidectomy with anastomosis of superior laryngeal nerves following total denervation. Four control dogs had arytenoidectomy without nerve anastomosis. Postoperative airway patency was excellent in all animals. All control dogs developed signficant degrees of aspiration pneumonia. The dogs that had undergone superior laryngeal nerve anastomosis, however, developed either insignificant degrees of lung abnormality or none at all. It is concluded that arytenoidectomy with superior laryngeal nerve anastomosis is an effective means of restoring function to a totally denervated larynx and would be the procedure of choice in laryngeal transplantation.

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