PHRENIC-NERVE REINNERVATION OF THE CATS LARYNX - A NEW TECHNIQUE WITHPROVEN SUCCESS

Reinnervation of the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle (PCA) should prov ide vocal cord abduction on inspiration, and passive adduction to enab le phonation. Previous investigators have shown that reinnervation is possible, but results have not been clinically encouraging. When reinn ervation was successful, the question remained whether it was provided by the transplanted nerve or by the ingrowth of adjacent nerves. In t his study the phrenic nerve was transplanted directly into the PCA in a series of 12 cats. Fibrin glue was used to overcome nerve trauma and to prevent retraction of the nerve from the PCA. Laryngoscopy, electr omyography, and retrograde labeling of the phrenic motoneurons provide d evidence of functional reinnervation in 9 cats. Partial or complete failure in the remaining 3 was due to retraction of the nerve from the muscle. These results appear to justify trials of the procedure in hu mans.