Skip to main content

Evolution of Palatal Surgery for Sleep-Disordered Breathing

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Barbed Pharyngoplasty and Sleep Disordered Breathing
  • 324 Accesses

Abstract

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) was the first palatal surgery specifically developed for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). To date, palatal surgery remains the paragon among various sleep surgeries and is the most commonly used surgery for OSA. During past decades, palatal surgery has evolved from the traditional UPPP, minimally invasive palatal surgery, to a functional reconstruction of the lateral pharyngeal wall and soft palate. The advancement of palatal surgery over the past 40 years has been a multi-dimensional evolution involving the concepts, surgical techniques, and postoperative care in treating sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). Conceptual evolution includes refinements of surgical indications, assessments of obstruction sites, and surgical limitations pertinent to clinical outcomes. Technical evolution comprises the suspension of muscle to maximize the velopharyngeal airspace and hybrid procedure to minimize the complications. Evolved postoperative care ensures better recovery after surgery and integrated treatment. In order to achieve comprehensive safety and efficacy in treating SDB patients, palatal surgery addressing the velopharyngeal obstruction continues to evolve.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Young T, Palta M, Dempsey J, et al. The occurrence of sleep-disordered breathing among middle-aged adults. N Engl J Med. 1993;328:1230–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Strollo PJ, Roger RM. Obstructive sleep apnea. N Engl J Med. 1996;334:99–104.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Yaggi HK, Concato J, Kernan WN, Lichtman JH, Brass LM, Mohsenin V. Obstructive sleep apnea as a risk factor for stroke and death. N Engl J Med. 2005;353:2034–41.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Bradley TD, Floras JS. Obstructive sleep apnoea and its cardiovascular consequences. Lancet. 2009;373:82–93.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Sullivan CE, Issa FG, Berthon-Jones M, et al. Reversal of obstructive sleep apnoea by continuous positive airway pressure applied through the nares. Lancet. 1981;1(8225):862–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Fujita S, Conway W, Zorick F, et al. Surgical correction of anatomic abnormalities in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1981;89:923–34.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Li HY, Lee LA, Tsai MS, et al. How to manage continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) failure -hybrid surgery and integrated treatment. Auris Nasus Larynx. 2020;2020(47):335–42.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Sher AE, Schechtman KB, Piccirrillo JF. The efficacy of surgical modifications of the upper airway in adults with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Sleep. 1996;19:156–77.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Yaremchuk K, Garcia-Rodriguez L. The history of sleep surgery. In: Lin HC, editor. Sleep-related breathing disorders. Advanced Otorhinolaryngology, vol. 80. Basel: Karger; 2017. p. 17–21.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  10. Heinberg CJ. A surgical procedure for the relief of snoring. Eye Ear Nose Throat Mon. 1955;34:389.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Robin I. Snoring. Proc R Soc Med. 1968;61:575–82.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. Weitzman ED, Pollack CP, Borowiecki B. Hypersomnia-sleep apnea due to micrognathia: reversal by tracheoplasty. Arch Neurol. 1978;35:392–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Fee WE Jr, Ward PH. Permanent tracheostomy: a new surgical technique. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 1977;86:635–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Conway WA, Victor LD, Magilligan DJ Jr, Fujita S, Zorick FJ, Roth T. Adverse effects of tracheostomy for sleep apnea. JAMA. 1981;246:347–50.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Simmons FB, Guilleminault C, Silvestri R. Snoring and some obstructive sleep apnea can be cured by oropharyngeal surgery. Arch Otolaryngol. 1983;109:503–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Li HY. Palatal surgery for obstructive sleep apnea: from ablation to reconstruction. Sleep Med Clin. 2019;14:51–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Kamami YV. Laser CO2 for snoring. Preliminary results. Acta Otorhinolaryngol Belg. 1990;44(4):451–6.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Powell NB, Riley RW, Troell RJ, et al. Radiofrequency volumetric tissue reduction of the palate in subjects with sleep-disordered breathing. Chest. 1998;113:1163–74.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Li KK, Powell NB, Riley RW, et al. Radiofrequency volumetric reduction of the palate: an extended follow-up study. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2000;122:410–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Ho WK, Wei WI, Chung KF. Managing disturbing snoring with palatal implants: a pilot study. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2004;130:753–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Friedman M, Vidyasagar R, Bliznikas D, et al. Patient selection and efficacy of pillar implant technique for treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2006;134:187–96.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Cahali MB. Lateral pharyngoplasty: a new treatment for obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome. Laryngoscope. 2003;113:1961–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Pang KP, Woodson BT. Expansion sphincter pharyngoplasty: a new technique for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2007;137:110–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Friedman M, Ibrahim HZ, Vidyasagar R, et al. Z-palatoplasty (ZPP): a technique for patients without tonsils. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2004;131:89–100.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Li HY, Lee LA. Relocation pharyngoplasty for obstructive sleep apnea. Laryngoscope. 2009;119:2472–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Mantovani M, Minetti A, Torretta S, Pincherle A, Tassone G, Pignataro L. The velo-uvulo-pharyngeal lift or “roman blinds” technique for treatment of snoring: a preliminary report. Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital. 2012;32:48–53.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  27. Mantovani M, Minetti A, Torretta S, Pincherle A, Tassone G, Pignataro L. The “Barbed Roman Blinds” technique: a step forward. Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital. 2013;33:128.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  28. Salamanca F, Costantini F, Mantovani M, Bianchi A, Amaina T, Colombo E, et al. Barbed anterior pharyngoplasty: an evolution of anterior palatoplasty. Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital. 2014;34:434–8.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  29. Vicini C, Hendawy E, Campanini A, et al. Barbed reposition pharyngoplasty (BRP) for OSAHS: a feasibility, safety, efficacy and teachability pilot study. “We are on the giant’s shoulders”. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2015;272:3065–70.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Barbieri M, Missale F, Incandela F, et al. Barbed suspension pharyngoplasty for treatment of lateral pharyngeal wall and palatal collapse in patients affected by OSAHS. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2019;276:1829–35.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Li HY, Lee LA, Kezirian EJ, Nakayama M. Suspension palatoplasty for obstructive sleep apnea—a preliminary study. Sci Rep. 2018;8:4224. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-22710-1.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  32. Shen SC, Li HY. State-of-the art in reconstructive palatal surgery techniques for obstructive sleep apnea. Curr Sleep Med Rep. 2020;6:67–75.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Li HY, Chen NH, Shu YH, et al. Changes of quality of life and respiratory disturbance after extended uvulopalatal flap surgery in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2004;130:195–200.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Li HY, Huang YS, Chen NH, et al. Mood improvement after surgery for obstructive sleep apnea. Laryngoscope. 2004;116:1098–102.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Li HY, Lee LA, Yu JF, et al. Changes of snoring sound after relocation pharyngoplasty for obstructive sleep apnoea: the surgery reduces mean intensity in snoring which correlates well to apnoea/hypopnoea index. Clin Otolaryngol. 2015;40:98–105.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Tsai MS, Lee LA, Tsai YT, et al. Sleep apnea and risk of vertigo: a nationwide population-based cohort study. Laryngoscope. 2018;128:763–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Li HY, Tsai MS, Huang CG, et al. Alterations in Alzheimer’s disease-associated gene expression in severe obstructive sleep apnea patients. J Clin Med. 2019;8:1361. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm8091361.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  38. Tsai MS, Li HY, Huang CG, et al. Risk of Alzheimer's disease in obstructive sleep apnea patients with or without treatment: real-world evidence. Laryngoscope. 2020;130:2292–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Ding MC, Hsu CM, Liu YC, et al. Deep neck infection risk in patients with sleep apnea: real-world evidence. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18:3191. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18063191.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  40. Certal VF, Pratas R, Guimaraes L, et al. Awake examination versus DISE for surgical decision making in patients with OSA: a systemic review. Laryngoscope. 2016;126:768–74.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Kezirian EJ, Hohenhorst W, de Vries N. Drug-induced sleep endoscopy: the VOTE classification. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2011;268:1233–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Victores AJ, Olson K, Takashima M, Alford BR. Interventional drug-induced sleep endoscopy: a novel technique to guide surgical planning for obstructive sleep apnea. J Clin Sleep Med. 2017;13:169–74.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  43. Lee LA, Chen NH, Huang CG, Lin SW, Fang TJ, Li HY. Patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein need priority treatment. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2010;143:72–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Lee LA, Huang CG, Chen NH, Wang CL, Fang TJ, Li HY. Severity of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein reduced after relocation pharyngoplasty. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2011;144:632–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Mortimore IL, Bradley PA, Murray JA, et al. UPPP may compromise nasal CPAP therapy in sleep apnea syndrome. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1996;154:1759–62.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Schwab RJ, Gupta KB, Gefter WB, et al. Upper airway and soft tissue anatomy in normal subjects and patients with sleep disordered breathing: significance of the lateral pharyngeal walls. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1995;152:1673–89.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Li HY, Lee LA, Hsin LJ, et al. Intrapharyngeal surgery with integrated treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. Biom J. 2019;42:84–92.

    Google Scholar 

  48. Li HY. Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty: patient selection and effects on airway. Chapter 33. In: Sleep apnea and snoring. 2nd ed; 2019. p. 191–7.

    Google Scholar 

  49. Jandali DB, Vaughan D, Eggerstedt M, et al. Enhanced recovery after surgery in head and neck surgery: reduced opioid use and length of stay. Laryngoscope. 2020;130:1227–32.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Zhang Y, Liu DW, Chen XM, Ma JH, Song XC. An enhanced recovery program improves the comfort and outcomes in children with obstructive sleep apnea undergoing adenotonsillectomy: a retrospective historical control study. Clin Otolaryngol. 2021;46:249–55.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Butler MP, Smales C, Wu H, et al. The circadian system contributes to apnea lengthening across the night in obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep. 2015;38:1179–801.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. Camacho M, Guilleminault C, Wei JM, et al. Oropharyngeal and tongue exercises (myofunctional therapy) for snoring: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2018;275:849–55.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Camacho M, Certal V, Abdullatif J, et al. Myofunctional therapy to treat obstructive sleep apnea: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sleep. 2015;38:669–75.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  54. Li HY, Cheng WN, Chuang LP, et al. Positional dependency and surgical success of relocation pharyngoplasty among patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2013;149:506–12.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Romero-Corral A, Caples SM, Lopez-Jimenez F, Somers VK. Interaction between obesity and obstructive sleep apnea. Chest. 2010;137:711–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The author would like to express the deepest gratitude to Linkou-Chang Gung Memorial Hospital for long-term support by grants in our sleep research. The authors also thank Dr. Yi-Chan Lee, Dr. Chien-Han Tsao, and Dr. Ying-Shuo Hsu for their extensive consultation to this chapter.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hsueh-Yu Li .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2022 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Li, HY., Lee, LA., Tsai, MS., Shen, SC. (2022). Evolution of Palatal Surgery for Sleep-Disordered Breathing. In: Vicini, C., Salamanca, F., Iannella, G. (eds) Barbed Pharyngoplasty and Sleep Disordered Breathing. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-96169-5_1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-96169-5_1

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-96168-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-96169-5

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics