[A rhombus shape excision of the soft palate to treat obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome].
OBJECTIVE
To explore a surgical treatment for obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).


METHODS
12 cases were treated during the period from Jan 1998 to Aug 2006. Partial soft palate was resected in rhombus shape from the middle to shorten the soft palate and enlarge the pharyngeal cavity. The uvula was reserved.


RESULTS
The patients were followed up for six months to five years. There was no complication. Good results were achieved in 9 patients. 2 cases got some kind of improvement. No improvement happened in one case who received a partial tongue resection later.


CONCLUSIONS
A rhombus shape excision of the soft palate from the middle is effective for the treatment of OSAHS with few complication.
Wang
Yi-Ning
YN
Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100144, China.
Li
Sen-Kai
SK
Li
Qiang
Q
Li
Yang-Qun
YQ
Zhou
Chuan-De
CD
Tang
Yong
Y
Chen
Wen
W
Wang
Yong-Qian
YQ
Wang
Hao
H
Li
Peng-Cheng
PC
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010160:Palate, Soft / Q000601:surgery*; D010614:Pharynx / Q000601:surgery; D017286:Polysomnography; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014059:Tongue / Q000601:surgery; D014609:Uvula / Q000601:surgery