Eight patients who underwent total laryngectomy during the period from October 1961 to June 1977 were subjected to precise ventilatory function tests including respiratory resistance, flowvolume curve and closing volume test before and after inhalation of bronchial dilator repeatedly with an interval of more than two years. The second test results obtained from March to April 1980 were compared with those of the first obtained from July 1976 to December 1977. In general, laryngectomized

more »

... were found to present abnormal test results as compared with normal subjects in the same age range. It was revealed that there were significant changes in %VC and CV/VC%, but no significant difference was found between the first and second test results in terms of FEV1.0%, respiratory resistance, or flow-volume curve. No significant difference was found in the data between the pre-and post-administration stages of a brochodilator. The results suggest that hyperinflation induced by relatively light expiratory obstruction existed in the lower air passage following long-term tracheal respiration after laryngectomy, but serious disturbances such as pulmonary emphysema asscciated with structural damage of lungs were not elicited.