Treatment of Velopharyngeal Insufficiency: Fifteen-Year Experience at the University of Florida.

Abstract

A 15-year experience treating velopharyngeal insufficiency at the University of Florida is presented. After diagnostic speech evaluation, preoperative videofluoroscopy was the primary method used to evaluate the function of the velopharyngeal port. Chart reviews of all patients with velopharyngeal insufficiency, including patients with failed palatal cleft surgery, submucous cleft palate, and noncleft palate who met study criteria were included. Overall success of treatment was 92%. Results are described by subgroups for further clarification. Selection of surgical procedure based on preoperative evaluation of velopharyngeal function and anatomy leads to a high rate of success.