Efficacy of expansion pharyngoplasty and hypoglossal nerve stimulation in treating sleep apnea

We investigated whether a palatal conversion procedure combined with a second-stage hypoglossal nerve stimulator (HGNS) insertion can be beneficial for those patients who have a complete concentric velopharyngeal collapse and may initially not meet the criteria for use of HGNS. A retrospective chart review included all patients who underwent a planned multi-level sleep surgery including expansion sphincter pharyngoplasty (ESP) followed by HGNS. All patients had a complete concentric collapse (CCC) of the velopharynx (VP) on pre-intervention drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) and were initially not a candidate for HGNS. These patients then underwent ESP followed by a DISE to confirm elimination of the CCC of the VP. They then went on to HGNS implantation several months later followed by a sleep study. A total of 20 patients were identified and included in the retrospective chart analysis. All patients who underwent ESP successfully converted their VP from CCC to an anterior-posterior collapse pattern and thus met inclusion criteria for HGNS. After the HGNS was implanted, patients showed a significant reduction of the mean AHI from 53.9 before ESP to 8.2 after ESP and HGNS and a decrease in the Epworth Sleep Score (ESS) from a mean of 13.3 to 5.7. ESP can be effective in eliminating the CCC of the VP thus making patients become HGNS candidates. In selected OSA patients, who have multilevel upper airway obstruction with complete concentric VP collapse, the combination of ESP and HGNS insertion should be considered as a planned 2-staged approach. Level of evidence: 4.