Complications of primary palatoplasty: a twenty-one-year review

The complications of 196 patients who underwent primary palatoplasties at North Carolina Memorial Hospital between 1963 and 1983 were reviewed. The von Langenbeck technique was utilized in 50 percent of the patients, the Wardill-Kilner technique in 45 percent, and the Dorrance technique in 5 percent. Intravelar veloplasties were performed in 34 percent of the patients. The incidence of postoperative complications was: deaths, 0 percent; malignant hyperthermia, 0 percent; aborted procedures, 0.5 percent; feeding difficulties, 0.5 percent; aspiration, 0.5 percent; reexploration for bleeding, 0.5 percent; pneumonia, 1 percent; upper respiratory tract infections, 2 percent; postoperative airway difficulties, 3 percent; oropharyngeal infections, 4 percent; and otitis media, 10 percent. Later evaluations demonstrated problems with otitis media in 17 percent of the patients and fistulas in 6 percent. An additional palatal operation of some type was later required in 22 percent of the patients, with 18 percent of the patients requiring a pharyngeal flap. Intravelar veloplasties were associated with a decreased incidence of secondary pharyngeal flaps but also an increased transfusion requirement. The Wardill-Kilner technique was associated with a higher incidence of postoperative fistulas, and the use of perioperative antibiotics was associated with fewer postoperative fistulas.