1 Introduction Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is the single most common surgical procedure performed for the correction of retropalatal obstruction causing or contributing to obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). Although its success rate has been reported at only 40% (when objective success…
1 Introduction The uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), as described by Fujita in 1981, marked a breakthrough for the evolving field of sleep surgery. However, the procedure's limited success and cure of obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) resulted in the need to develop…
1 Introduction The nasal valve is defined as the flow-limiting segment of the nasal airway, located at the triangular aperture between the upper lateral cartilage and the septum. The angle formed by these two structures ranges from 10 to 15…
Effective surgical treatment for obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) must be designed to eliminate collapsible soft tissue in the upper airway without interfering with normal function. Creation of a noncollapsible airspace and reduction of airway resistance enable maintenance of adequate…
1 Introduction It is widely accepted that particular mouth and tongue positions affect patency of the upper airway. Specifically, mouth opening is believed to decrease the cross-sectional area, whereas tongue protrusion is believed to increase the dimensions of the upper…
Consideration of the complex relationship between sites of airway obstruction is paramount to choosing the correct surgical approach to treatment. Selecting patients who are likely to respond to surgery necessitates preoperative evaluation of individual patient anatomy. Lingual tonsil hypertrophy (LTH)…
1 Introduction Obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is often the result of obstruction at multiple anatomic sites. Nasal, palatal, and hypopharyngeal obstruction, acting alone or in concert, are frequently identified as the cause of snoring and OSAHS. Even in cases…