title: [Velo-palatoplasty. Surgical treatment of upper respiratory tract obstruction in children].
abstract: The surgical treatment of primary obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in childhood still remains relatively unknown. The Uvulo-Palato-Pharyngo-Plasty regularly performed in adults cannot be used for children. This technique jeopardizes phonation and swallowing. We are reporting data concerning a retrospective study about twenty-one infants suffering from a primary obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Their mean age was three years and four months. Eighteen patients were operated by means of a new technic which has been developed and has been developed ans used since 1982: after adjusted Palato-Vomeral resections Velo-Palato-Plasty brings an advancement of the velum thus entailing the upper airway's widening. Velo-Palato-Plasty can be performed without any risks from the very first years in childhood. A follow-up study of six years shows sixteen good results. In two cases, obstruction and apnea remained because of a general evolutive affection which contraindicates this procedure of surgery.
authors.affiliation: Unité de Chirurgie Plastique Infantile, CHU Lapeyronie, Montpellier.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Montoya-Martinez
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Martinetto
mesh_terms: D000233:Adenoidectomy; D002508:Cephalometry; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010160:Palate, Soft / Q000601:surgery*; D017286:Polysomnography; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*
vernacular_title: La vélo-palato-plastie. Traitement chirurgical de l'obstruction des voies aériennes supérieures chez l'enfant.