Oropharyngeal stenosis: A rare complication following adenotonsillectomy

Abstract

Oropharyngeal stenosis (OPS) is a narrowing of the oropharynx as a result of adhesions from the base of tongue to the anterior tonsillar pillars and inferior tonsillar fossa [1]. OPS is a rare complication of oropharyngeal surgery and can cause dysphagia, sleep disordered breathing, velopharyngeal incompetence due to tethering of the soft palate, and dyspnea. Whereas OPS occurred historically following oropharyngeal infection, the advent of antibiotic treatment for common infectious agents in the early 20th century has made OPS an extremely rare condition [1,2]. OPS has been associated with multilevel, single-stage upper airway surgery involving lingual tonsillectomy and in conjunction with nasopharyngeal stenosis [2]. OPS is mentioned historically anecdotally after simple adenotonsillectomy but to our knowledge this is the first case report of a patient who developed OPS following routine adenotonsillectomywith no other risk factors. She underwent successful surgical repair which included scar division and palatal scar lengthening with local advancement flap. This