The improvement of quality of life of patients with aspiration pneumonia after surgical therapy for intractable aspiration

Sixteen patients with recurrent aspiration pneumonia that could not be controlled by appropriate medical therapies. These patients had no hope of recovering laryngeal function. Eight underwent laryngectomy, six underwent laryngotracheal separation and four underwent tracheoesophageal anastomosis. After surgery, we evaluated the efficacy of the therapy and the patients' satisfaction with therapy. Before and after surgery, the following clinical markers were examined to evaluate the efficacy of surgery: scores of aspiration pneumonia, WBC count, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, hematocrit, body mass index, total protein, albumin, and the Barthel index, an indicator of daily activity. Furthermore, the grade of Depression and mood, and satisfaction of patients and their carers among family members were scored using the Zung self-rating depression scale, a 20-picture face scale, the visual analog scale, and feeding status. After surgical therapy, we confirmed that aspiration was prevented in fourteen patients of sixteen, and the state of inflammation and nutrition, the state of depression and mood were improved. Thirteen patients from sixteen were able to ingest a meal orally. The quality of life of patients with intractable aspiration was improved.