title: Effect of cleft palate repair and pharyngeal flap surgery on upper airway obstruction during sleep.
abstract: The effect of von Langenbeck palatoplasty and pharyngeal flap surgery on upper airway obstruction during sleep was studied by obtaining polysomnographic sleep studies on 10 patients undergoing each procedure at 1 to 2 days prior to surgery, 2 to 3 days postoperatively, and approximately 3 months postoperatively. The effects of von Langenbeck palatoplasty on sleep-related upper airway obstruction were usually minimal and clinically insignificant, whereas severe obstructive sleep apnea was present in all but one of the patients undergoing pharyngeal flap surgery at 2 to 3 days postoperatively. In most patients the upper airway obstruction was resolved at the 3-month postoperative sleep study. These data suggest that palatoplasty carries with it a very slight risk of upper airway obstruction, whereas pharyngeal flap surgery has as a very frequent concomitant the occurrence of severe obstructive sleep apnea in the immediate postoperative period.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010614:Pharynx / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000209:etiology*; D013524:Surgical Flaps