Conversion Furlow Palatoplasty and the Use of Preoperative Video Nasendoscopy.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-2022

Identifier

DOI: 10.1177/10556656211015008

Abstract

Objective: To assess outcomes after conversion Furlow palatoplasty with and without routine preoperative flexible fiberoptic video nasendoscopy (FFVN).

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Tertiary Children's Hospital.

Patients: Greater than 3 years of age with cleft palate and velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) after straight-line palatoplasty requiring secondary surgery performed with a Furlow palatoplasty.

Main outcome measures: The number of children with and without routine FFVN prior to conversion Furlow palatoplasty for VPI after initial straight-line palatoplasty. Groups were compared for surgical timing, speech outcomes, and need for additional surgery after conversion Furlow palatoplasty.

Results: Fifty-eight patients underwent preoperative FFVN versus 29 without. Mean age at FFVN was 73.8 (SD 34) months. Mean age for secondary palatal surgery by conversion Furlow palatoplasty was 81.5 (SD 34.8) months with FFVN versus 73.4 (SD 34.0) months without FFVN. There was a significant difference (P < .001) for VPI diagnosis and time to surgery between the groups. Preoperative hypernasality ratings were similar between groups. Postoperatively 65.5% of FFVN and non-FFVN patients corrected to normal resonance. Only 6.9% of all patients rated moderate-severe hypernasality after surgery compared to 42.5% preoperatively. Of total, 5.7% of patients had unchanged hypernasality and only 1 patient rated worse. Seven patients ultimately required additional surgery in attempt to normalize their resonance.

Conclusions: Routine preoperative FFVN does not offer any advantage for improved outcomes in children undergoing conversion Furlow palatoplasty after straight-line repair. Routine preoperative FFVN was associated with increased time to surgery after diagnosis of VPI compared to those without FFVN.

Journal Title

The Cleft palate-craniofacial journal : official publication of the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association

Volume

59

Issue

5

First Page

629

Last Page

636

MeSH Keywords

Child; Cleft Palate; Humans; Nose Diseases; Palate, Soft; Retrospective Studies; Treatment Outcome; Velopharyngeal Insufficiency; Voice Disorders

Keywords

endoscopy; nasality; nasopharyngoscopy; nonsyndromic clefting; palatoplasty; resonance; speech disorders; surgical technique; velopharyngeal function

Link to Full Text
Library Record

Share

COinS