role of nasendoscopy in selecting the surgical management of velopharyngeal incompetence in cleft palate patients

ABSTRACT

This study aims at attempting to define the role of nasendoscopy in selecting the appropriate procedure. A retrospective review of 35 patients was conducted. Various static and dynamic variables obtained through the nasendoscope were analysed. Statistical analysis was conducted using regressional analysis of multiple variants to define the most significant variable affecting outcome. A surgical protocol was proposed and the results of each procedure was assessed by a speech pathologist. The total number of patients was 35 with a mean age of 12.5 +/- 6.9 and 51% were males. Statistical analysis revealed the significance of velar and lateral wall movements. The success rate was >75% for superiorly based posterior pharyngeal flap and sphincter pharyngoplasty 100% success rate for furlow palatoplasty and 50% for patients who were managed conservatively. Nasendoscopy provides the examiner with useful information especially in regards to the dynamic variables that strongly influenced the outcome: