title: Novel use of tissue expander for dilation of oropharyngeal stenosis.
abstract: Naso/oropharyngeal stenoses are uncommon surgical complications. We present a child having undergone previous adenoidectomy without complication who developed naso/oropharyngeal scarring after subsequent tonsillectomy. She presented with nasal obstruction and frequent gasping at night worrisome for obstructive sleep apnea. Scar was initially excised and the defect allografted. Conventional esophageal dilators were undersized, and ultimately a tissue expander was used intraoperatively as a balloon dilator. The patient's symptoms and sleep apnea resolved. We found use of a tissue expander as a balloon dilator to be at least minimally effective in dilating the oropharynx when all other methods at our disposal proved ineffective.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United States.
authors.forename: Debdeep
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Banerjee
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United States.
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United States; West Texas Craniofacial Center of Excellence, Lubbock, TX, United States. Electronic address: Joshua.Demke@ttuhsc.edu.
authors.forename: Joshua C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Demke
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000150:complications; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D004106:Dilatation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology; D009960:Oropharynx / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000209:etiology; D015625:Tissue Expansion Devices; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000009:adverse effects
keywords: Balloon dilation; Oropharyngeal stenosis; Tissue expander; Tonsillectomy