Does your voice sound nasal? Let's learn about pharyngoplasty surgery!

Have you ever felt that when you speak, your words are not clear, as if you are speaking through your nose? Or for some adults, snoring has become a big problem in their sleep. The reason for such things can be some changes in the tissues in our throat and the roof of our mouth. So today we are talking about a special surgery that is performed as a solution to this.

Simply put, what is pharyngoplasty?

Pharyngoplasty is a surgical procedure that changes the shape and function of the soft tissue behind the roof of your mouth (soft palate) and the tissue at the back of your throat (pharynx). Imagine, if we talk and air comes out of our nose unnecessarily, our voice sounds like we are talking through our nose. In medicine, this is called hypernasality . So this surgery is done to reduce that amount of air coming out of our nose.

This condition is called velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) . Children and adults with this condition benefit greatly from this surgery. In addition, a different type of pharyngoplasty is also used to treat sleep apnea in adults.

Who needs this surgery the most?

This surgery is most often performed on children born with a cleft palate . This is a common birth defect. Even if a cleft palate is corrected with surgery, some children (about one in three) may later develop VPI, or nasal phonation. That's when pharyngoplasty surgery is needed.

There are other causes of VPI, and this surgery may also be necessary in such cases:

• Conditions like cerebral palsy .
• Genetic conditions such as Down syndrome and DiGeorge syndrome .
• Receiving radiation therapy for conditions such as cancer of the throat.
• After surgery to remove the adenoids (adenoidectomy) or tonsils (tonsillectomy) .
• Stroke .
• Tumors in the brain or skull.

Main types of pharyngoplasty surgery

There are several main types of this surgery, each type depending on the condition it is used for.

What happens during and after the surgery?

Before surgery

It is very important to follow your doctor's instructions exactly. You or your child may be asked to stop taking certain medications, vitamins, or Ayurvedic remedies a few days before surgery.

During surgery

All of these surgeries are performed under general anesthesia . This means that you or your child will not feel anything during the surgery and will be completely asleep. Depending on the type of surgery, it can take up to two hours. Doctors will then reposition the tissues inside the throat and place dissolvable stitches to finish the surgery.

After the surgery

You will usually have to stay in the hospital for one to three days. You can expect the following after surgery:

• A small amount of blood-like discharge coming from the mouth or nose.
• Nasal congestion .
• Sore throat and neck. This can make it a little difficult to swallow in the early days.

These symptoms usually go away on their own within a few days. Very rarely (about 1 in 20 people), a nasopharyngeal airway may be needed to help you breathe until the swelling goes down.

Benefits, risks, and recovery time of surgery

The main advantages are:

• Easier breathing.
• Voice clarity.
• Reduction in snoring symptoms.

Speaking of risks, sometimes VPI can remain for a while after surgery. Also, some people who have VPI surgery may develop loud snoring (sleep apnea) later. However, this snoring will decrease over time. Your doctor may recommend a sleep study (polysomnography) 6 months after surgery.

How long does it take to heal?

The time it takes to fully recover varies from person to person, but it usually takes about a week to rest and take time off from school or work.

Take care of these things at home:

• Use a pillow or two to prop your head up slightly when sleeping or lying down.
• Eat only liquids and well-mashed soft foods (e.g. yogurt, soup, porridge, mashed rice) for one to three weeks.
• Stop lifting weights and playing strenuous sports until your doctor tells you to.
• Take prescribed antibiotics on time to prevent infection.
• Take prescribed or over-the-counter pain relievers for pain.
• Participate in speech therapy to restore your voice.
• You can suck on ice cubes for a sore throat.

When to see a doctor immediately

If you or your child has any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately.

• Signs of dehydration (e.g. dry mouth, decreased urine output) or loss of appetite.
• Signs of an infection, for example, fever, foul-smelling discharge from the mouth or nose.
• Difficulty breathing or having more difficulty sleeping than usual.