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Combined transoral robotic tongue base surgery and palate surgery in obstructive sleep apnea‐hypopnea syndrome: Expansion sphincter pharyngoplasty versus uvulopalatopharyngoplasty
Author(s) -
Vicini Claudio,
Montevecchi Filippo,
Pang Kenny,
Bahgat Ahmed,
Dallan Iacopo,
Frassineti Sabrina,
Campanini Aldo
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.23271
Subject(s) - uvulopalatopharyngoplasty , medicine , transoral robotic surgery , obstructive sleep apnea , hypopnea , surgery , sleep apnea , airway , sphincter , anesthesia , apnea , polysomnography
Background Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for obstructive sleep apnea‐hypopnea syndrome is a relatively young technique principally devised for managing apneas in the tongue base (TB) area and supraglottic larynx. This procedure is included in the so‐called “multilevel surgery” often including a palatal and nasal surgery. Methods We carried out a retrospective analysis in order to understand in detail the relative impact on apneas of the 2 different procedures carried out in the palate area (expansion sphincter pharyngoplasty and uvulopalatopharyngoplasty). We evaluated 2 groups, each of 12 cases, which were sorted according to the primary selection criteria of statistically comparable preoperative apnea‐hypopnea index (AHI), sex, age, body mass index (BMI), and volume of removed TB tissue. Results Postoperative AHI registered was of 9.9 ± 8.6 SD for the expansion sphincter pharyngoplasty group and 19.8 ± 14.1 SD for the uvulopalatopharyngoplasty group. Conclusion As the palate component of our multilevel procedure, expansion sphincter pharyngoplasty, including conventional nose surgery and robotic surgery, seems to be superior to uvulopalatopharyngoplasty. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 36 : 77–83, 2014