ABSTRACT
Velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) is a condition characterized by failure of the posterior part of the soft palate to reach the pharyngeal wall and separate the nasopharynx from the oropharynx during speech and swallowing. VPI may persist following cleft palate repair. This study aimed to determine the outcomes of the superiorly based pharyngeal flap to treat VPI post cleft palate repair. Methods: A retrospective cohort study included patients with VPI post cleft palate repair who underwent secondary speech surgery. The criteria were based on clinical symptoms, physical examination, nasometry, and videofluoroscopy/nasoendoscopy findings. Data were analyzed by using SPSS program, version 22.0. A P value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Thirty-five patients were identified. VPI was reduced to 14.3% postoperatively. Before the surgery 25.7% of the patients had severe hypernasality, 68.6% had moderate hypernasality, and 5.7% had mild hypernasality. After the surgery, only 8.6% of the patients still had severe hypernasality, 22.9% had moderate hypernasality, 57.1% had mild hypernasality, and hypernasality became absent in 11.4%. Articulation disorders were present in 91.4% of patients before surgery, and decreased to 71.4% postoperatively. Speech intelligibility improved postoperatively in comparison with preoperative findings. Conclusion: The present study concluded that the superiorly based pharyngeal flap was successful in treating VPI that persisted post cleft palate repair.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To address the factors affecting recurrence after endoscopic surgical repairs of spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leak, specifically the influence of using lumbar drains. METHODS: This study involved a retrospective data analysis, including a chart review of all spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak cases who underwent endoscopic anterior skull base repair from 2012-2017 in King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. RESULTS: Thirteen patients with spontaneous CSF leaks were identified and evaluated. The majority were females (92.3%) with an average body mass index of 34.9. All patients underwent endoscopic repair with intra-operative lumbar drain placement. Patients continued having post-operative lumbar drain for an average of 6.4 days. Four patients (30.8%) developed recurrence; however, only one of those had a documented high opening pressure. CONCLUSION: Spontaneous CSF leak repairs are at a higher failure risk and may have an underlying pathology involving CSF circulation. The use of lumbar drains and intracranial pressure lowering agents are controversial and seems to be reserved only for high risk patients; however, the higher risk of recurrence in this group may be better managed by proper pre-operative evaluation and selective, patient-specific management protocols.
