Outcomes in Pharyngoplasty: A 10-Year Experience

Abstract

Objective The outcomes of 61 patients who underwent a pharyngoplasty for velopharyngeal insufficiency were reviewed to determine potential risk factors for reoperation. Design This was a retrospective chart review of 61 consecutive patients over approximately 10 years (1993 to 2003). Variables analyzed included gender, cleft type, age at the time of pharyngoplasty, length of time between palate repair and pharyngoplasty, and associated syndromes. Participants Of the 61 patients, 20 (34%) had a unilateral cleft lip and palate, 5 (8%) had a bilateral cleft lip and palate, 13 (21%) had an isolated cleft palate, 7 (11%) had a submucous cleft palate, and 16 (26%) were diagnosed with noncleft velopharyngeal insufficiency. Results Of the 61 patients, 10 (16%) required surgical revision. No statistically significant difference was found among gender, cleft type, age at the time of pharyngoplasty, the length of time between palate repair and pharyngoplasty, and associated congenital syndromes, with respect to the need for surgical revision (p > .05). Of the surgical revisions, 50% (5) were performed for a pharyngoplasty that was placed too low. Conclusions Because 50% of the pharyngoplasty revisions had evidence of poor velopharyngeal closure and associated hypernasality resulting from low placement of the sphincter, the pharyngoplasty needs to be placed at a high level to reduce the risk for revisional surgery. The pharyngoplasty is a good operation for velopharyngeal insufficiency with an overall success rate of 84% (51 of 61) after one operation and greater than 98% (60 of 61) after two operations.