[The influence of the partial laryngectomy on the mechanism of deglutition (author's transl)].

Partial laryngectomy causes functional insufficiency on deglutition. 56 patients who had undergone partial laryngectomy were found to suffer from food aspiration into the respiratory tract during deglutition. Aspiration of food was mainly caused by: Narrowing of the inlet of the hypopharynx, due to edema in the region of the arytenoids; insufficiency of one of the two pyriform fossae; inadequate closure of the glottis. Eight out of 56 patients are suffering from aspiration of food, particularly of liquids. The age does not have any particular influence. Post-operative radiation therapy resulted to insufficiency because of persistent edema created in the region of the arytenoids.