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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Suggest Treatment For Inability Of Epiglottis To Cover The Airway

I did a modified barrium swallow and the results showed my epiglottus was not moving down to cover my airway when I swallowed. I am a 59 year old man who has had some injuries and pneumonia but not in the last 15 years. What is the treatment for this problem?
Mon, 6 Feb 2017
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ENT Specialist,  's  Response
Hi,thank you for posting your query on health care magic.

Inability of the protective function of the larynx due to inability of epiglottis to cover your airway results in aspiration with secondary pneumonia.

A surgical procedure known as Epiglottopexy may help in your case.
The Epiglottopexy procedure protects the laryngeal inlet by permanently fixing the epiglottis to the posterior part(aryepiglottic fold) of the larynx.A small opening is left in the posterior laryngeal inlet to preserve phonation and which may be an adequate airway.

This surgery is usually done by Phonosurgeons.

Hope this answers your question.Take care.
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Suggest Treatment For Inability Of Epiglottis To Cover The Airway

Hi,thank you for posting your query on health care magic. Inability of the protective function of the larynx due to inability of epiglottis to cover your airway results in aspiration with secondary pneumonia. A surgical procedure known as Epiglottopexy may help in your case. The Epiglottopexy procedure protects the laryngeal inlet by permanently fixing the epiglottis to the posterior part(aryepiglottic fold) of the larynx.A small opening is left in the posterior laryngeal inlet to preserve phonation and which may be an adequate airway. This surgery is usually done by Phonosurgeons. Hope this answers your question.Take care.