Surgical alternatives to uvulopalatopharyngo-plasty in sleep apnea syndrome

Uvulopalatopharyngo-plasty (UPPP) is the surgery most often performed for sleep apnea syndrome (SAS). However, good results with UPPP, demonstrated by polysomnography, have been reported in only 50% of cases. Failure of UPPP may be caused by: 1) bad management of the SAS, which is better treated in some patients with nasal CPAP than with surgery; and 2) an airway obstruction located not only at the palatopharynx (PP) level. Other surgical procedures to enlarge other sites of obstruction are described. Retro-tongue-base-pharynx (RTBP) surgery is emphasized, including mandibular advancement, hyoid bone suspension, and tongue base reduction. Maxillomandibular advancement is the most efficient technique but also the most complicated.