VELOPHARYNGEAL FUNCTION FOLLOWING MONGOLIAN METHOD FOR PRIMARY PALATOPLASTY / Шинэ санаа Шинэ нээлт

ABSTRACT

The timing and technique for palatoplasty is very controversial, recent literature advocates for early repair, between six and eighteen months of age, facilitating normal speech and language development, and avoiding hearing loss. It is using three main kinds of techniques for palatoplasty in the worldwide, two flap pushback, Furlow double opposing z-plasty, and two-step palatoplasty.Cases presenting later in life to the Mongolian National Center for Maternal and Child Healthprovide Mongolian surgeons′ with the challenge of wider defects which are difficult to manage successfully using traditional palatoplasty techniques.Oro-nasal fistula formation is an one of most documented postoperative complication, and it`s rate is reported between 6-42,3% in the literature. In Mongolia patients often present in older than recommended age for palatoplasty,it provide surgeons with the challenge of managing wider defects, which have higher rates of fistula formation and wound dehiscence. There were 30% of ONF in our practice. So, in 2000 we established new modified Mongolian technique for primary palatoplasty for improved outcomes across all age groups. And ONF rate reduced from 30% to 5.9 % in our department. Objective: To determine velopharyngeal function after primary palatoplasty by Mongolian method in connective with age at repair and cleft type.In our study were included over four year’s old patients, who underwent primary palatoplasty by Mongolian method at the authors` centre. We excluded syndromic cases, and patients who had an oronasal fistula postoperatively, and no cooperation with speech therapist. This study, we use video records of nasopharyngeoscopy to evaluate for cleft lip and palate patient’s velopharyngeal function associated with type of clefts, the timing of palate repair and cooperation with speech therapist.There were included totally 28 patients who are 4-23 years old (mean age 10.2 years) at the time of study, were performed primary cleft palate repair by Mongolian technique at NCMCH. The mean age at palate repair was 38 months (14 months-18 years). Overall, 39.2% (11) of patients were performed palate repair at 18≥ months old and 60.8% (17) patients were operated palate repair at 18< months. In the first group, VPI was demonstrated 27,3%, and in the second group 41,2%. Also, there were demonstrated VPI for 66,7% of Veau 1 type, 45,5% of Veau 3 type, and only 10% of Veau 4 type, after Mongolian method. Better velopharyngeal result for Veau 4 type and wide cleft palate after Mongolian method than other types. We should continue this study in wider screen for recognition this results.