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Snoring surgery with palatal implants after failed uvulopalatopharyngoplasty

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Abstract

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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ENT Department, Hospital USP Marbella, Malaga, Spain

    Carlos O’Connor-Reina & Juan Carlos Casado-Morente

  2. Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Seville, Seville, Spain

    Carlos O’Connor-Reina & Diego Gomez-Angel

  3. Centro ORL Garcia Monge, Seville, Spain

    Maria Teresa Garcia-Iriarte

  4. ENT Department, Hospital Naval De San Carlos San Fernando, Cadiz, Spain

    Alfonso Rodriguez-Diaz

  5. ENT Deparment, Hospital la Zarzuela, Madrid, Spain

    Guillermo Plaza-Mayor

  6. ENT Deparment, Hospital De Fuenlabrada, Madrid, Spain

    Guillermo Plaza-Mayor

  7. Avda Menendez y Pelayo 44 5c, Sevilla, Spain

    Carlos O’Connor-Reina

Authors
  1. Carlos O’Connor-Reina
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  2. Maria Teresa Garcia-Iriarte
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  3. Juan Carlos Casado-Morente
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  4. Diego Gomez-Angel
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  5. Alfonso Rodriguez-Diaz
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  6. Guillermo Plaza-Mayor
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carlos O’Connor-Reina.

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O’Connor-Reina, C., Garcia-Iriarte, M.T., Casado-Morente, J.C. et al. Snoring surgery with palatal implants after failed uvulopalatopharyngoplasty. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 265, 687–693 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-007-0525-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-007-0525-4

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