[Operative therapy of deglutition paralysis]

Abstract

Disorder of deglutition is one of the severest signs in postoperative or posttraumatic paresis of the caudal cranial nerves. The main problem in these cases is aspiration. It is a serious disorder with potentially life-threatening pulmonary sequelae. In cases with unilateral paresis of the vagus and glossopharyngeal nerve we can consider the problem of surgical rehabilitation of swallowing as to be solved very well, as described in the present paper. However, in cases with bilateral vagus paresis we are faced with many more problems especially in the high-grade aspiration syndrome. The surgical procedures are described.