Pharyngeal Flap Versus Sphincter Pharyngoplasty for Velopharyngeal Insufficiency: A Review of the 2014 and 2015 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Project-Pediatrics Data

J Craniofac Surg. 2019 Mar/Apr;30(2):554-556. doi: 10.1097/SCS.0000000000005164.

Abstract

The authors sought to compare hospital utilization and complications in patients undergoing pharyngeal flap (PF) or sphincter pharyngoplasty (SP) for velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI). A retrospective analysis of the 2014 and 2015 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Project-Pediatrics (ACS NSQIP-P) was performed. Current procedural terminology codes were used to identify children undergoing PF (42225, 42226) and SP (42950) for VPI (International Classification of Diseases version 9: 478.29, 528.9, or 750.29). Four hundred forty-six patients were treated for VPI with either PF (n = 250) or SP (n = 196). The groups were demographically similar in age, gender, race, and preoperative comorbidity. Pharyngeal flap was performed less often as an outpatient procedure than SP (96/250 [38.4%] vs 130/196 [66.3%], P < 0.0001) and had a longer total length of hospital stay (mean 1.76 ± 1.29 vs 0.98 ± 0.91 days, P < 0.0001). No difference in total complications (10/250 [4.0%] vs 3/196 [1.5%], P = 0.124) was identified. The reduction in hospital resource utilization (fewer admissions, shorter length of stay) is notable. No difference in complications was identified between the 2 procedures.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pharynx / surgery*
  • Plastic Surgery Procedures / adverse effects
  • Plastic Surgery Procedures / methods
  • Plastic Surgery Procedures / statistics & numerical data*
  • Postoperative Complications
  • Quality Improvement
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Surgical Flaps / statistics & numerical data*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • United States
  • Velopharyngeal Insufficiency / surgery*