<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<bold>BACKGROUND.</bold> Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by frequent episodes of breathing cessation during sleep, resulting in low oxygen and high carbon dioxide levels, leading to daytime sleepnes, cognitive issues, and increased cardiovascular risk. The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of the anterior palatoplasty (AP) procedure in the treatment of patients with mild and moderate obstructive sleep apnea.
<bold>MATERIAL AND METHODS.</bold> Sixteen patients diagnosed with mild and moderate OSA underwent AP in our clinic between 2021-2023. All patients were > 18 years old, body mass index &lt; 30, with an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) from 10 to 40 and disfunction of the velopharyngeal or of the retropalatal space. Patients underwent a one-night polysomnography examination prior to the surgical procedure, as well as six months after the procedure. Additionally, patients were asked to complete the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) both prior to and six months following the surgery. The procedure was done under general anaesthesia and involved AP surgery with or without reducing of the uvula.
<bold>RESULTS.</bold> The average of total AHI values decreased from 28.89 per hour prior to surgery to 11.14 per hour six months after surgery. The oxygen desaturation index decreased after surgery with 2.57%. ESS scores of patients also decreased from 10.40 to 7.80 and all patients felt less tired.
<bold>CONCLUSION.</bold> We believe that AP is an effective technique in the treatment of mild and moderate OSA caused by a disfunction of the velopharyngeal or retropalatal space. Additionally, we consider that AP is linked with a lower incidence of post-surgical complications compared to other surgical options.
</abstract>

BACKGROUND. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by frequent episodes of breathing cessation during sleep, resulting in low oxygen and high carbon dioxide levels, leading to daytime sleepnes, cognitive issues, and increased cardiovascular risk. The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of the anterior palatoplasty (AP) procedure in the treatment of patients with mild and moderate obstructive sleep apnea.
MATERIAL AND METHODS. Sixteen patients diagnosed with mild and moderate OSA underwent AP in our clinic between 2021-2023. All patients were > 18 years old, body mass index < 30, with an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) from 10 to 40 and disfunction of the velopharyngeal or of the retropalatal space. Patients underwent a one-night polysomnography examination prior to the surgical procedure, as well as six months after the procedure. Additionally, patients were asked to complete the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) both prior to and six months following the surgery. The procedure was done under general anaesthesia and involved AP surgery with or without reducing of the uvula.
RESULTS. The average of total AHI values decreased from 28.89 per hour prior to surgery to 11.14 per hour six months after surgery. The oxygen desaturation index decreased after surgery with 2.57%. ESS scores of patients also decreased from 10.40 to 7.80 and all patients felt less tired.
CONCLUSION. We believe that AP is an effective technique in the treatment of mild and moderate OSA caused by a disfunction of the velopharyngeal or retropalatal space. Additionally, we consider that AP is linked with a lower incidence of post-surgical complications compared to other surgical options.

Anterior palatoplasty as a treatment for mild and moderate obstructive sleep apnea: our experience

“Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy

Romanian Journal of Rhinology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

BACKGROUND. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by frequent episodes of breathing cessation during sleep, resulting in low oxygen and high carbon...

Anterior palatoplasty as a treatment for mild and moderate obstructive sleep apnea: our experience

Published Online: Apr 29, 2024

Page range: 89 - 95

Received: Jan 26, 2024

Accepted: Feb 29, 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/rjr-2024-0014

Keywords
anterior palatoplasty, obstructive sleep apnea, apnea hypopnea index, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, polysomnography

© 2024 Ionut Tanase et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Anterior palatoplasty as a treatment for mild and moderate obstructive sleep apnea: our experience

Published Online: Apr 29, 2024

Page range: 89 - 95

Received: Jan 26, 2024

Accepted: Feb 29, 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/rjr-2024-0014

Keywordsanterior palatoplasty, obstructive sleep apnea, apnea hypopnea index, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, polysomnography

© 2024 Ionut Tanase et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
anterior palatoplasty, obstructive sleep apnea, apnea hypopnea index, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, polysomnography