Purpose: This is a feasibility study of functional identification of the abductor and adductor recurrent laryngeal nerve branches, which could be used in the donor's larynx for functional laryngeal transplantation.
Methods: The study was performed on swine (n = 3) and human (n = 4) models of a donor larynx. The recurrent laryngeal nerve and its branches were found. Using stimulator, abductor and adductor branches were identified, and glottis closing and opening were captured with an endoscope.
Results: The result was positive if two ENT specialists noticed at least one adduction and one abduction movement in the same subject. It was obtained in three out of three swine and three out of four humans.
Conclusions: This study shows a way of reinnervation of a transplanted larynx which might result in a functional organ. It describes the first step of the procedure: functional identification of the abductor and adductor branches of the recurrent laryngeal nerve in the donor before the larynx is excised for transplantation.
Keywords: Airway stenosis/reconstruction; Laryngeal reinnervation; Larynx; Microvascular reconstruction and transplant surgery.