Severe organic dysphagia after long-term ventilation in a patient with sepsis and multiorgan failure

A case of severe chronic dysphagia lasting more than 1 year after long-term ventilation due to sepsis is presented. Fiber optic endoscopic examination of swallowing (FEES) revealed retention of food on both sides of the base of the tongue and in both valleculae combined with severe penetration and postglutitive aspiration into the larynx. The reason was a broad-based scarred adhesion between the lingual side of the epiglottis and the tongue base. The adhesion was resected using a CO(2) laser. The final examination 3 months later showed complete recovery of normal swallowing function.