Evaluation of effects of anterior palatoplasty operation on upper airway parameters in computed tomography in patients with pure snoring and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

Aim To investigate changes in upper airway volume parameters measured by computerized tomography scans in patients with surgically treated by anterior palatoplasty of whom having pure snoring and mild-moderate obstructive sleep apnea. Method A prospective study on consecutively anterior palatoplasty performed pure snoring and obstructive sleep apnea patients. Computerized tomography scans were obtained preoperatively and following anterior palatoplasty procedure to measure changes in upper airway volume. Patients underwent diagnostic drug induced sleep endoscopy to assess the site of obstruction. Preoperative and postoperative measurements were compared using student’s t test and Chi-square test. Results Twenty-two patients (16 men and 6 women, age 48.22 ± 9.23, body mass index 25.85 ± 2.57) completed the trial. Anterior palatoplasty was associated with an increase in total upper airway volume from 4.81 ± 1.73 cm 3 before treatment to 6.57 ± 2.03 cm 3 after treatment ( p