The aim of this study was to introduce and assess a new minimally invasive expansion pharyngoplasty for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) using bilateral new advancement sutures without tonsillectomy. Among 24 patients who had OSA with Friedman stage II or III and type I Fujita, bilateral sutures were performed to advance and stabilize palatopharyngeus and palatoglossus muscles anterolaterally. Mean apnea hypopnea index decreased significantly from 28.6 ± 4.2 preoperatively to 8.9 ± 4.9 postoperatively. The lowest oxygen saturation increased significantly from 79.25 ± 4.12 to 89.29 ± 4.12. Moreover, the visual analog score showed statistically significant reduction in the snoring intensity from a preoperative mean of 8.2 ± 1.4 to 2.1 ± 1.4 at 6 months postoperatively. Significant improvements were also documented in the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, as its mean decreased from 11.7 ± 2.9 preoperatively to 5.1 ± 2.2 postoperatively. In conclusion, the described new sutures could significantly correct OSA in patients with retropalatal obstruction and lateral pharyngeal walls collapse with easy applicability and no reported complication.
Keywords: expansion pharyngoplasty; obstructive sleep apnea; snoring; suspension sutures; tonsillectomy.
© American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery Foundation 2016.