Management of congenital buccopharyngeal membrane.
OBJECTIVE
To describe our experience in treating congenital buccopharyngeal membranes and reflect on lessons learned managing this rare anomaly.


METHODS
Case series of two patients followed 3 and 6 years, respectively.


METHODS
Two different academic tertiary-care medical centers.


METHODS
Two patients with congenital buccopharyngeal membranes.


METHODS
Multiple pharyngoplasties, including the use of lasers, rotated mucosal flaps, and oropharyngeal stents.


RESULTS
The first patient has had her tracheotomy removed, but she still uses a gastrostomy tube and has an expressive speech delay. The second patient can eat well but has persistent speech and airway problems, largely due to his micrognathia.


CONCLUSIONS
Centrally dehiscent buccopharyngeal membranes are rare and require carefully planned treatment. Associated anomalies worsen the prognosis. We propose a set of recommendations to assist in the management of this difficult problem.
Bent
J P
JP
Division of Otolaryngology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta 30912-4060, USA.
Klippert
F N
FN
Smith
R J
RJ
D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005774:Gastrostomy / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008844:Micrognathism / Q000150:complications; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery / Q000637:transplantation; D010614:Pharynx / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D012008:Recurrence; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D015607:Stents; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014140:Tracheotomy; D016896:Treatment Outcome