ORAL PALATOPHARYNGOPLASTY OCTOBER 1992

Oral palatopharyngoplasty (OP) is a surgical procedure which was devel oped to reduce the incidence of DDSP and respiratory poor performance associated with Acquired Pharyngeal Dysfunction (APD).1 Palatine surge ry is designed to reduce dorsal billowing of the soft palate, thereby improving nasopharyngeal airway, and thus reducing negative or suction pressures. G. E. mucosal stripping is carried out to improve the stab ility of ventral positioning of the caudal border of the soft palate. In combination, the two should decrease leakage of oropharyngeal matte r passed the isthmus faucium, and reduce the incidence of DDSP. Improv ements in both respiratory function and performance were encouraging. Post-operative monitoring and management was essential to achieve opti mum results. The surgery itself did not interfere with any inherent an atomical function, and hence was void of any debilitating side effects . The state of good health and well-being exhibited by these animals p ost operatively, became a widely accepted hallmark of the procedure.