Introduction: Alteration of normal laryngeal function may result in life threatening aspiration and may cause pulmonary complications. Aim: The aim of this paper is to report 15 cases of surgical treatment of chronic aspiration, including surgical techniques, results and complications. Study design: Retrospective chart review. Material and method: 15 patients were treated between 1997 and 2000, who underwent surgical treatment of aspiration at AACD - São Paulo /SP. Surgical procedures were: supraglottic, glottic or subglottic closure. We analyzed sex, age, primary diagnostic, prior tracheotomy, oral or nonoral feeding, incidence of pneumonia, followup and complications. Results: eight patients were male and seven were female. The mean age was nine years and two months. The most frequent primary diagnostic was chronic encephalopathy. Prior tracheotomy were performed in ten patients. Nine patients were able to eat after surgery at least 50% of them required intake. All 15 patients reduced the incidence of pneumonia. The follow-up ranged from four to 36 months. One patient had a separation of the epiglottis from the larynx postoperatively. Conclusion: Surgical treatment of chronic aspiration with laryngeal closure is to be considered in reducing the incidence of pneumonia and improving quality of life.
surgery; aspiration; dysphagia
