Sphincter pharyngoplasty for management of velopharyngeal insufficiency
Velopharyngeal closure is essential for normal speech production. Velopharyngeal insufficiency is characterized by nasal air emissions and hypernasal resonance. The most common surgical procedures used to treat velopharyngeal insufficiency include posterior pharyngeal flap, palatoplasty, and sphincter pharyngoplasty. The sphincter pharyngoplasty is used when fiberoptic nasal endoscopy reveals velopharyngeal inadequacy associated with adequate velar movement but poor lateral wall motion. It is suited for both coronal and circular closure patterns. In our experience, it may be considered for all patients with velopharyngeal inadequacy and transverse orientation of the levator veli palatini.1 This article describes the senior author's method for performing a sphincter pharyngoplasty.
Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
Address reprint requests and correspondence: Kathleen C.Y. Sie, MD, Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Childhood Communication Center, University of Washington, Seattle Children's 4800 Sand Point Way, Seattle, WA
Supported in part by the Murakami Endowment for the Childhood Communication Center.
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