Open AccessInferolateral Pharyngoplasty
Author(s) -
Tanyeri Hasan M.,
Aksoy Elif A.,
Serin Gediz M.,
Polat Senol,
Unal Omer F.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
otolaryngology–head and neck surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.232
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1097-6817
pISSN - 0194-5998
DOI - 10.1177/0194599812451426a435
Subject(s) - uvulopalatopharyngoplasty , tonsillectomy , medicine , obstructive sleep apnea , surgery , closure (psychology) , pharynx , apnea , anesthesia , polysomnography , economics , market economy
Objective This study describes inferolateral pharyngoplasty (ILP) and its effectiveness as a surgical technique to enlarge pharyngeal air space inferolaterally, which complements submucosal uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (smUPPP) in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Method Fifty‐two patients underwent complete tonsillectomy, including lingual portions of palatine tonsils during smUPPP. Reconstruction included double layer closure, muscle, and mucosa emphasizing inferolateral portions of smUPPP. Pre‐ and postoperative Müller maneuver and respiratory disturbance index (RDI) were analyzed. Results The study group consisted of 47 men (90.38%) and 5 women (9.61%). The mean age was 46.6 ± 9.5 years. The pharyngeal collapse varied between 30% and 100% preoperatively. The pharyngeal collapse decreased to values between 20% and 50% postoperatively. Mean RDI levels decreased from 33.3 ± 22.9 to 23.7 ± 22.8 ( P =. 027) following surgeries in OSA patients. Conclusion ILP is a complementary procedure to smUPPP that might increase the effectiveness of the procedure. This effect might originate from double layer closure in particular emphasis on inferolateral portions. We propose that smUPPP in conjunction with ILP is an effective procedure to ameloriate OSA condition.