Snoring surgery with palatal implants after failed uvulopalatopharyngoplasty.
The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and morbidity in the use of the palatal implant technique (PITs) in patients with failed uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) after a 6-month follow-up period. This was a prospective, nonrandomized study. Sixteen patients who underwent UPPP by the same Institution with Fujita's technique with initial success but developed posterior residual apnea or snoring who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were enrolled. Responses of all patients and their partners were assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS). Objective data were recorded using ambulatory polysomnography before and at 6 months after surgery. Postoperative VAS and ESS scores significantly improved by 180 days after surgery (P < 0.005). VAS snoring score was reduced from 8.3 +/- 0.8 to 5.5 +/- 1.7 (P < 0.005) and ESS score decreased from 13.3 +/- 5.9 to 10.25 +/- 4.6 (P< 0.005). The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) decreased from 18.08 +/- 6.02 to 16.8 +/- 5.05 events/h (P = 0.03). The PIT is an effective treatment for snoring and daytime sleepiness of patients with failed UPPPs.
O'Connor-Reina
Carlos
C
ENT Department, Hospital USP Marbella, Malaga, Spain. ocore@eresmas.com
Garcia-Iriarte
Maria Teresa
MT
Casado-Morente
Juan Carlos
JC
Gomez-Angel
Diego
D
Rodriguez-Diaz
Alfonso
A
Plaza-Mayor
Guillermo
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010160:Palate, Soft / Q000601:surgery*; D010614:Pharynx / Q000601:surgery*; D017286:Polysomnography; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012086:Reoperation / Q000379:methods; D012913:Snoring / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017211:Treatment Failure; D014609:Uvula / Q000601:surgery*