CLINICAL-RESULTS OF PHARYNGEAL FLAP SURGERY - THE IOWA EXPERIENCE

Sixty-five patients with cleft palate, with or without cleft lip, who received previous pharyngeal flap surgery for chronic velopharyngeal d ysfunction in our department, were examined for velopharyngeal status, speech production patterns, and evidence of nasal airway obstruction. Of the 65 subjects, 54 (83.1 percent) showed velopharyngeal function within normal Limits, 43 (66.1 percent) showed normal or near-normal s peech production, and 58 (89.2 percent) reported snoring sometimes or often. Of the 58 reporting snoring, electrocardiogram (EGG) data for 3 3 were examined for evidence of right ventricular hypertrophy. Only on e (3 percent) of the 33 showed such possible indication. We conclude t hat by our methods, pharyngeal flap surgery is an effective treatment for velopharyngeal dysfunction. After surgery, patients may report sym ptoms of nasal airway obstruction during sleep but are not expected to show ECG changes in cardiac function resulting from oxygen deprivatio n.