OBJECTIVES: We reviewed the outcomes of @entity1 who underwent a velopharyngoplasty and subsequent speech therapy for @entity1739 ( @entity1739 ) to determine possible prognostic variables. METHODS: During the period 2002-2010, 91 @entity1 with @entity1739 underwent a velopharyngoplasty (either the Honig velopharyngoplasty, the modified Honig velopharyngoplasty or the Hynes pharyngoplasty). Of these, 62 had complete data for long-term evaluation of speech outcome and analysis of variables potentially influencing this outcome. Speech outcome was assessed using five criteria that were evaluated pre- and postoperatively: @entity2422 , nasal emission, facial grimacing, retro-articulation and glottal stops. The former two variables were transformed into a semi-objective nasality index (NI), the latter three variables were assembled to form a subjective articulation index (AI). Prognostic variables for outcome that were studied included age at velopharyngoplasty, associated 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, intervention type, primary or secondary surgery and pre-intervention speech therapy. RESULTS: Before surgery, based on the NI, 15 @entity1 had mild @entity1739 and 44 @entity1 had moderate to severe @entity1739 . Postoperatively at 12 months, 46 @entity1 had a good speech outcome (normal or mild @entity1739 ), 13 @entity1 had moderate @entity1739 and no more severe @entity1739 was observed. The overall success rate of 78% after one year increased to 90% in the long-term (median 27 months) with further speech therapy. @entity1 without the diagnosis of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome had better speech outcomes than @entity1 with the syndrome. No statistically significant effect of the age at velopharyngoplasty on speech outcome was found. No cases of @entity387 were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Our protocol of @entity1 tailored surgical interventions and further postoperative speech therapy results in good speech outcomes, with no or only mild remaining @entity1739 for the majority of @entity1 . The correction of @entity1739 is more difficult for the subgroup of @entity1 with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome.

Surgery for XXXX : The outcomes of the University Hospitals Leuven.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['Patients', 'patients', 'patient'] @entity1739 :: ('MESH:D014681', 'Disease') :: ['VPI', 'velopharyngeal insufficiency'] @entity2422 :: ('MESH:C537724', 'Disease') :: ['hypernasality'] @entity387 :: ('MESH:D012891', 'Disease') :: ['sleep apnea syndrome']
@entity1739 :: (MESH:D014681,Disease) :: ['velopharyngeal insufficiency']
