Manofluorography of deglutition after supraglottic laryngectomy

✍ Scribed by McConnel, F. M. S. ;Mendelsohn, M. S. ;Logemann, J. A.

• Publisher: Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
• Year: 1987
• Weight: 647 KB
• Volume: 9
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0148-6403
• DOI: 10.1002/hed.2890090303

✦ Synopsis

Manofluorography (mano: manometry, fluoro: videofluoroscopy, graphy: picture) provides a simultaneous display of manometry and fluoroscopy on one video screen. This study uses manofluorography to analyze the swallowing patterns of nine patients who had undergone supraglottic laryngectomy. The results show that during swallowing the pharyngeal mechanism for preventing aspiration depends upon three processes: (1) tight lingual-laryngeal contact, (2) coordination of the swallowing reflex, and (3) tongue base and pharyngeal constrictor clearing of the hypopharynx and laryngeal inlet. Anterior suspension of the larynx under the tongue base serves to improve lingual-laryngeal contact. This close contact during deglutition protects the airway from the bolus and also opens the postcricoid region, aiding bolus passage into the esophagus. Impairment of the swallowing reflex, which can cause severe aspiration before the swallowing reflex is triggered, can be rehabilitated by swallowing therapy. Minor aspiration is commonly caused by impaired clearing of the superior hypophatynx after supraglottic laryngectomy. HEAD & NECK SURGERY 9:142-150 1987

Aspiration is a major postoperative problem in supraglottic laryngectomees, with most of these This project was assisted by the Calvin and Marisa Allen Fund for Research into Head and Neck Cancer.