[Surgical treatment of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome after velopharyngeal ring ligation procedure].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of removal of ligation thread combined adenoidectomy in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) after velopharyngeal ring ligation procedure (VRLP).


METHODS
The upper airway was examined with dynamic fiberoptic pharyngoscope in six patients with cleft palate who were diagnosed as OSAHS by polysomnography(PSG) after VRLP. All the patients underwent removal of ligation thread and adenoidectomy. Three months after operation, they were recalled back and were examined with polysomnography and dynamic fiberoptic pharyngoscope. The preoperative and postoperative PSG data were analysed with t test and chi-square test to determine the statistical differences.


RESULTS
In patients with OSAHS after VRLP, a ring scar was observed on the upper airway at the soft palate level and a remarkable narrow nasopharyngeal meatus was found mainly because of adenoidal hypertrophy. After removal of ligation thread and adenoidectomy, no velopharyngeal incompetence was found, the upper airway morphology was smooth, respiration disorder during sleeping was completely disappeared and sleep architecture became normal. There were significant differences between preoperative and postoperative PSG data.


CONCLUSIONS
Removal of ligation thread combined adenoidectomy was an effective treatment for OSAHS after VRLP.
Wang
Ke-tao
KT
Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China. wkt1972@126.com
Wei
Feng-cai
FC
Fan
Xian-liang
XL
Zhao
Hua-qiang
HQ
Wang
Qiu-qin
QQ
Tan
Wan-ye
WY
D000233:Adenoidectomy; D000234:Adenoids; D002972:Cleft Palate; D006801:Humans; D008026:Ligation; D010160:Palate, Soft; D017286:Polysomnography; D011184:Postoperative Period; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000601:surgery*; D014068:Tonsillectomy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014681:Velopharyngeal Insufficiency