The feasibility of nasal pharyngoscopy using the 70 degrees Storz-Hopkins nasopharyngoscope.

In a sample of 100 patients of all ages with velopharyngeal incompetence the overall success rate in passing the Storz-Hopkins 70 degrees nasopharyngoscope was 83%. The seventeen failures occurred in children under 10. In a group of 110 children between 3 and 11 years old, success rates for pre-school children were less than 50%, but for primary school children the success rate rises to 75% in the eighth year and failures over the age of 10 are exceptional. The possibility that unilateral cleft patients and neurological patients would have a worse prognosis for age could not be confirmed statistically in this sample. From a practical point of view endoscopy with this endoscope should be reserved for children of school age (over 5), unless the child seems particularly self-possessed, in order to have reasonable chance of success and to avoid prejudicing the child against subsequent and perhaps more essential examination.