title: Laryngeal nerve function after total laryngeal transplantation.
abstract: The first successful composite human laryngeal transplantation was performed by a team led by the senior author on January 4, 1998. The recipient was a 40-year-old male who had sustained a crush injury to his larynx 20 years prior, rendering him aphonic. Multiple previous attempts for reconstruction at an outside hospital were unsuccessful. The donor was a 40-year-old male who had died from a ruptured cerebral aneurysm. The specifics of the procedure have been detailed elsewhere. Throughout the patient's postoperative course, serial fiberoptic evaluations and voice testing were performed to evaluate laryngeal reinnervation reflected in phonatory function. We herein report the results of these exams, as well as the results of electromyographic recordings of the laryngeal musculature 4 years posttransplantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Communication Disorders, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Ohio 44195, USA.
authors.forename: Robert R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Lorenz
authors.forename: Douglas M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Hicks
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Shields
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Fritz
authors.forename: Marshall
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Strome
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001044:Aphonia / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D004576:Electromyography; D006801:Humans; D007823:Laryngeal Nerves / Q000502:physiology* / Q000637:transplantation; D007830:Larynx / Q000293:injuries* / Q000637:transplantation*; D008297:Male; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014833:Voice Quality / Q000502:physiology; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications