Effects of left recurrent laryngeal neurectomy, prosthetic laryngoplasty, and subtotal arytenoidectomy on upper airway pressure during maximal exertion.

Upper airway pressure was measured with a nasotracheal catheter system and a portable pressure transducer in 10 normal horses during maximal exercise before and after left recurrent laryngeal neurectomy. Measurements were repeated 16 weeks after prosthetic laryngoplasty (5 horses) or subtotal arytenoidectomy (5 horses). During maximal exertion, prosthetic laryngoplasty was more effective than subtotal arytenoidectomy in reversing the increases in upper airway pressure that followed left recurrent laryngeal neurectomy.