Pharyngoplasty is a surgical procedure designed to reshape the soft palate and the back of the throat to enhance speech and breathing. This surgery helps minimize the amount of air escaping through the nose during speech, which can improve the clarity of communication. It is commonly recommended for individuals with velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI), a condition that leads to overly nasal-sounding speech and can make understanding difficult. Additionally, pharyngoplasty may be used to address sleep apnea in adults.
Pharyngoplasty includes several types of procedures tailored to specific issues:
People with velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) are often recommended with pharyngoplasty. VPI is commonly caused by several conditions, such as:
About 1 in 1,700 babies are born with cleft palate, and approximately 1 in 3 children who have cleft palate surgery may develop VPI and need pharyngoplasty.
After pharyngoplasty for velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI), some people might still have issues, such as sleep apnea or loud snoring.
If VPI continues or sleep apnea develops, a minor outpatient procedure can be done to adjust the throat openings: making them smaller for VPI or enlarging them for sleep apnea. While snoring often gets better with time, a sleep study might be recommended six months post-surgery to check for sleep apnea.
To prepare for pharyngoplasty, it is important to closely follow the instructions given by the healthcare provider, such as:
Pharyngoplasty can last up to two hours depending on the type being performed. All are done under general anesthesia, and steps may vary per procedure.
After pharyngoplasty, most patients stay in the hospital for one to three nights. In rare cases, about 1 in 20 patients may require a nasopharyngeal airway—a tube placed in the nose—to assist with breathing until the swelling subsides.
One might experience symptoms such as bleeding from the mouth or nose, nasal congestion, and sore throat or neck pain, which can make swallowing difficult. These side effects typically resolve on their own within a few days.
During recovery period, it is important to monitor for potential signs of complications. Seek immediate medical attention when any of the following is experienced:
It is also essential to follow specific instructions such as:
The success rates for pharyngoplasty depend on the type of surgery performed. Lateral pharyngoplasty improves sleep apnea symptoms by about 50%. Pharyngeal flap surgery is effective for treating velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) 80% to 90% of the time. Sphincter pharyngoplasty is somewhat less effective, with a success rate of 60% to 70% for treating VPI.
Generally, pharyngoplasty offers benefits such as better breathing, improved speech, and reduced sleep apnea symptoms.