Component Approach for Partitioning Nasal Airway Resistance: Pharyngeal Flap Case Studies

Abstract

Individuals with craniofacial anomalies often have nasal cavity and/or velopharyngeal constriction. The purpose of this clinical report was to illustrate a technique for partitioning nasal airway resistance into its nasal cavity and velopharyngeal components. This information would be helpful in determining intervention to reduce high nasal airway resistance as well as in providing information about the outcome of corrective procedures to establish velopharyngeal competence for speech. Data from two pharyngeal flap patients seen before and after surgery were utilized in this illustration. These case studies illustrate the usefulness of component resistance measures in quantifying nasal airway patency before and after corrective surgery for velopharyngeal function.