Pharyngeal Flap

Abstract

Closure of the velopharyngeal sphincter is necessary for the correct phonation of vowels and most consonants. Dysfunction of the velopharyngeal sphincter allows excess air passage into the nasal cavity, resulting in altered speech. Surgeons rely on a handful of diagnostic modalities as well as perceptual speech analysis by cleft-trained speech-language pathologists for proper evaluation of the underlying abnormality causing velopharyngeal dysfunction and for determination of subsequent treatment options. Pharyngeal flap surgery is considered in patients whose dysfunction occurs due to velopharyngeal insufficiency from a large anteroposterior central gap during closure of the velum and pharynx. The pharyngeal flap creates a static central obstruction while maintaining two patent lateral airway openings, ultimately aiding in improved phonation of oral consonants.