[Decreased aspiration after extensive tumor surgical interventions in the area of the mouth cavity and pharynx by laryngeal suspension].

Lateral laryngeal suspension in combination with a cricopharyngeal myotomy represents a simple technique for prevention and/or treatment of chronic aspiration in patients during or after surgery for head and neck cancer. At the Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery of the University of Heidelberg this technique has been employed with satisfying results in 6 patients with large carcinomas of the oral cavity and pharynx. Lateral laryngeal suspension was not able to prevent--or if used secondarily--to eliminate aspiration completely in all patients. However, none of our patients experienced aspiration of saliva postoperatively. All were able to use a speech canula and some could even be fed orally.