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The paper deals about classical histologic and histochemical study for mucinoid substances through 7 laryngeal pieces coming from clinic autopsies. The gland units occurring in the two lower thirds of the epiglottis were formed by a great number of serous acini and mucinous tubuli, which secretion is acid and neutral mucous substances, as sialomucins, serving as lubricant and protective means. This glandular system convey through the epiglottic perforans holes, without break, the pre-epiglottic and epiglottic spaces, with the clinical repercussion that suggest the chance of encroachment for incipient epiglottic cancer to pre-epiglottic room.

The laryngectomees offer a good model for investigating the effect of absence of nasal ventilation in humans. Two samples has been studied: one composed for 24 laryngectomees, the other one for 54 healthy men. The clearance mucociliar time, using the charcoal power method in both specimen, and a structural and ultrastructural morphological survey in 5 cases, before and after the laryngectomy, was carried out. Normal people have a mucociliar clearance mean time of 9.3 +/- 3.6 minutes and among laryngectomized this time is 11.1 +/- 5.5 minutes, with no statistically significative differences at all (p = 0.26). Morphological outcome of the inquiry shows by the 2nd week there is a marked change in the previously transitional epithel which becomes a good ciliated epithelial one, together with an increase in number of goblet cells, and the exhibition of great dynamism in the morphological changes happening in the nasal mucous membrane, in agreement with the stop of the nose ventilation.

Prospective study following 32 total laryngectomees with the aim of compare the efficacy of the pharyngo-esophageal closure alternatively stiching with vicryl and catgut. The use of vicryl resulted in 31 percent pharyngocutaneous fistulae versus 61 percent with catgut.