Recent advances in surgery of the larynx and trachea

Recent advances in surgery of the larynx and trachea have occurred in the general areas of diagnosis, pretreatment nutritional therapy, surgical technique, and reconstruction. In diagnosis the routine use of the flexible fiberoptic laryngoscope in the office and the use of computerized tomography have been valuable. The addition of enteral and parenteral nutrition therapy in selected patients with laryngeal cancer has been an advance. In the area of surgical technique, section of the recurrent nerve for the treatment of abductor laryngeal spastic dysphonia has proved successful. In the area of reconstruction the use of the epiglottic flap for repair of the larynx after near-total laryngectomy for glottic cancer and the use of the pectoralis major myocutaneous flap for one-stage pharyngoesophageal reconstruction have been significant advances. An increase in the number of patients with chronic lung disease has created a new interest in tracheal fenestration.