Pharyngeal Flap Surgery

Pharyngeal flap has these advantages:

• Your child speaks more clearly.
• Less air escapes through the nose when your child talks.
• Clearer speech can improve your child’s communication and social confidence.

Problems after pharyngeal flap are rare but can include:

• Breathing issues (usually temporary)
• Snoring or noisy breathing during sleep
• Need for revision or additional surgery to improve speech
• Bleeding or infection
• Palate fistula

Your child’s doctor may recommend:

• A speech evaluation to determine how pharyngeal flap surgery may help your child
• A sleep or airway evaluation to identify any breathing concerns
• A meeting with the anesthesia and surgical team to prepare your child
• Instructions on stopping food and drink right before surgery

Pharyngeal flap takes place in a hospital operating room with your child asleep under general anesthesia. 

1. The doctor separates a flap of tissue from the top or back of the child’s throat.
2. The doctor brings it forward and secures it to create a smaller space behind the soft palate so it can block air from moving through your child’s nose when they talk. 

1. The doctor closes the surgical area with dissolving stitches (sutures).
2. Your child stays in in the hospital overnight.
3. A soft diet is recommended for about two weeks.
4. The doctor will see your child and look at how well speech and breathing have improved.
5. Speech improvement is gradual: Continued therapy helps retrain your child’s sound pronunciation.