Surgical Management of Vocal Fold Paralysis and Cricopharyngeal Dysfunction as a Cause of Aspiration

Aspiration and pharyngeal dysphagia occur across various age groups as a result of numerous conditions, such as neurological, oncological, or inflammatory processes. After nonsurgical techniques fail, surgical options for treatment of the larynx or cricopharygeus muscle are considered. The most common causes of laryngeal causes of dysphasia/aspiration can be treated with procedures aimed at closing the laryngeal gap resulting from paralysis. Cricopharyngeal dysfunction often can be identified by various diagnostic modalities, but dilation, botulinum toxin, and myotomy are commonly employed management options.