Adult tonsillectomy: anatomical differences affect postoperative transient hypernasality.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to determine how anatomical conditions of the throat influence the degree and duration of posttonsillectomy transient hypernasality.


METHODS
A total of 82 tonsillectomies were performed. The participants were divided into groups: 1 – small tonsils, high soft palate position; 4 – large tonsils, low soft palate position, and 2 and 3 – intermediate tonsil dimensions and soft palate positions. Variables studied included the diameter of vapor (DV) on the mirror positioned under the patient's nose while articulating nasal sentences before and after surgery, the distance from the uvular tip to the posterior pharyngeal wall, healing grading as well as the degree and duration of hypernasality.


RESULTS
The mean hypernasality after tonsillectomy was greatest in group 4 and lowest in group 2. Before tonsillectomy, the mean DV was largest in group 2 and smallest in group 4. After tonsillectomy, the mean DV was largest in group 4 and smallest in group 3. Overall, the mean DV was significantly greater after tonsillectomy compared to the value before surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
The degree of hypernasality after tonsillectomy depends on the soft palate position in relation to the tongue base and the size of the tonsils. Hypernasality is greatest in patients with large tonsils and a low soft palate position in relation to the tongue base.
ENT Day Surgery Department, St. John Grande's Hospital, Kraków, Poland.
Olaf
O
Zagólski
Paweł
P
Stręk
Mariusz
M
Gajda
D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D010160:Palate, Soft / Q000473:pathology; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000473:pathology; D010614:Pharynx / Q000473:pathology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014059:Tongue / Q000473:pathology; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014833:Voice Quality