title: Lateralization of the Pharyngeal Flap for Treatment of Lateral Velopharyngeal Gap.
abstract: Pharyngeal flap is usually used for treatment of velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI); it is bridged between the posterior pharyngeal wall and the soft palate traversing the central part of the velopharyngeal port. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of lateralization of the pharyngeal flap for treatment of VPI in patients with lateral velopharyngeal gap. Fifteen patients with VPI due to lateral velopharyngeal gap were subjected to closure of the gap by pharyngeal flap that was lateralized to fill the gap. Preoperative and postoperative assessment of velopharyngeal functions including flexible nasopharyngoscopy, auditory perceptual assessment (APA), and nasometric assessment were performed. Postoperatively, flexible nasopharyngoscopy showed complete velopharyngeal closure in all the patients, with significant improvement of speech parameters as measured by APA. Also, nasalance score showed significant improvement for oral and nasal sentences that was measured by nasometry. Lateralization of the pharyngeal flap for treatment of VPI in patients with lateral velopharyngeal gap is an effective method; it improves the velopharyngeal closure and the speech of the patients.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Otolaryngology, Cairo University, Giza †Department of Otolaryngology, Beni Suef University, Beni Suef, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mosaad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abdel-Aziz
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rashed
authors.forename: Nader
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Naguib
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shawky
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000503:physiopathology; D010160:Palate, Soft / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D010609:Pharyngeal Muscles / Q000637:transplantation*; D010614:Pharynx / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013060:Speech / Q000502:physiology; D013068:Speech Production Measurement; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000637:transplantation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014681:Velopharyngeal Insufficiency / Q000601:surgery*