Commentary to: Long-term results of a modified expansion sphincter pharyngoplasty for sleep-disordered breathing

Excerpt

We read with great interest the article by Despeghel et al [1] published in the March 2017 issue of the journal. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a syndrome characterized by recurrent collapses of upper respiratory tract [2]. Many patients with OSA have bulky thick lateral pharyngeal walls that contribute to the collapse and obstruction of the upper airway in these patients. There are different procedures described in the literature for habitual snoring and OSA. Oropharyngeal surgeries and palatal procedures are uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, uvulopalatal flap, laser-assisted uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, cautery-assisted palatal stiffening operation, lateral pharyngoplasty, Z-palatoplasty, radiofrequency volumetric tissue reduction, pillar palatal implants, and expansion sphincter pharyngoplasty [3, 4]. Complications of pharyngoplasties include dysphagia, velopharyngeal insufficiency, and eustachian dysfunction [5]. …