[Effect of Ejnell's laterofixation of the vocal fold for bilateral fixation at the median position]

We reviewed the effect of Ejnell's laterofixation of the vocal fold for bilateral fixation at the median position. Subjects were 10 patients undergoing bilateral vocal fold fixation at the median position from October 1998 to September 2005. We evaluated outcome using indices of FEV1.0/PEFR (ml/L/min) and PEFR (%), which reflect the severity of upper airway obstruction and whether tracheostoma could be closed if tracheostomy preceded Ejnell's procedure. Mean FEV1.0/PEFR and PEFR in 5 patients undergoing breathing capacity examination before and after surgery improved from 13.21 to 9.85 and 30.9 to 51.9. respectively. Six of the 8 undergoing tracheostomy prior to Ejnell's procedure tolerated decannulation. Another 2 whose tracheostoma could not be closed had complications, one having COPD and the other poorly controllable diabetes mellitus, with swollen false vocal fold and arytenoids and granulation. Our results suggest that Ejnell's laterofixation of the vocal fold is effective in treating bilateral vocal fold fixation at the median position. A patient's complications should, however, be taken into consideration before proceeding to Ejnell's laterofixation.