title: Clinical outcome of laryngotracheal separation for intractable aspiration pneumonia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To confirm that laryngotracheal separation (LTS) is a satisfactory treatment for patients with intractable aspiration pneumonia, even though it does not require tracheoesophageal anastomosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine patients with intractable aspiration pneumonia underwent LTS at our institution from 1996 to 1999. Two patients underwent postoperative barium swallow radiography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neither halitosis nor stimulation of the cough reflex occurred due to pooled secretions in the blind pouch of the proximal tracheal segment. Barium swallow radiography confirmed that the secretions drained within 40 min by swallowing or a change in patient position.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LTS is a satisfactory solution to the problem of chronic aspiration. Neither pooled secretions in the proximal tracheal segment nor fistula formation were significant postoperative problems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan. yamana@mtd.biglobe.ne.jp
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamana
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kitano
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hanamitsu
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kitajima
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D017609:Barium Compounds; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D004947:Esophagus / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007830:Larynx / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D011015:Pneumonia, Aspiration / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D014132:Trachea / Q000601:surgery*; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D017609:Barium Compounds