Comparative Analysis of Lateral Pharyngoplasty and Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty Techniques With Polisomnography and Epworth Sleepiness Scales

Snoring is caused by the vibration of structures of the oral cavity, such as the soft palate, uvula, tonsils, base of the tongue, epiglottis, and lateral pharyngeal walls. When these structures collapse and obstruct the airway, apnea occurs. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is characterized by repeated periods of upper airway obstruction, a decrease in arterial oxygen saturation, and interrupted sleep. The prevalence of OSAS is 1% to 5% in men and 1.2% to 2.5% in women. Crucial factors in deciding the surgical approach include a detailed ear-nose-throat examination, Muller maneuver, sleep endoscopy, and apnea hypopnea index scores. Accepted treatments include continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), surgeries of the base of the tongue and/or palate, and multi-level surgeries. It, however, is important to continue to evaluate the efficacies of such procedures. The authors evaluated the outcomes of 23 patients who underwent surgery for OSAS, using preoperative and postoperative polysomnography (PSG) and the Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS). The results were compared before and after surgery. In all, 14 patients had lateral pharyngoplasty and 9 had uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP). The PSG and Epworth scale values were significantly lower in both groups, postoperatively. Patients indicated that their quality of life had improved. In conclusion, the surgeries were successful. In line with the literature, our results indicate that lateral pharyngoplasty and UPPP can be used in appropriate patients. Longer-term studies on more patients will provide more detailed information in the future.