MANAGEMENT OF CONGENITAL BUCCOPHARYNGEAL MEMBRANE

Objective: To describe our experience in treating congenital buccophar yngeal membranes and reflect on lessons learned managing this rare ano maly. Design: Case series of two patients followed 3 and 6 years, resp ectively. Setting: Two different academic tertiary-care medical center s. Patients: Two patients with congenital buccopharyngeal membranes. I ntervention: Multiple pharyngoplasties, including the use of lasers, r otated mucosal flaps, and oropharyngeal stents. Results: The first pat ient has had her tracheotomy removed, but she still uses a gastrostomy tube and has an expressive speech delay, The second patient can eat w ell but has persistent speech and airway problems, largely due to his micrognathia. Conclusions: Centrally dehiscent buccopharyngeal membran es are rare and require carefully planned treatment, Associated anomal ies worsen the prognosis. We propose a set of recommendations to assis t in the management of this difficult problem.