Tailoring velopharyngeal surgery: the influence of etiology and type of operation

The results of 132 consecutive endoscopically selected pharyngoplasties were assessed. Depending on the size and shape of the velopharyngeal defect on attempted closure, patients had been allocated to one of four pharyngoplasties: (1) a superiorly based pharyngeal flap combined with a V-Y pushback of the soft palate (Honig), (2) a modified Hynes approach, (3) a superiorly based pharyngeal flap, or (4) a fish flap. Patients were categorized according to etiology as having cleft palate, submucous cleft palate, disproportion, or neurologic origin. Acceptable nasal resonance was found after 81 percent of the Honig operations, 81 percent of the Hynes operations, and 63 percent of the superiorly based flap operations, vindicating the selection criteria based on palatal and pharyngeal wall movement. The fish flap operation was successful in only 50 percent and is not recommended. The cleft, submucous cleft, disproportion, and neurologic categories were equally well corrected by the Honig and Hynes operations. Side effects were common, with catarrh or snoring in 51 percent, difficulty breathing through the nose in 27 percent, and 9 percent requiring revision of their pharyngoplasty (6 of 53 Honig and 5 of 63 Hynes operations). The higher median age for those patients requiring pharyngoplasty revision (17 versus 10 years) suggests more cautious use in the older patient.