Published in:
03-01-2022 | Sleep Apnea | Sleep Breathing Physiology and Disorders • Review
Lateral pharyngoplasty vs. traditional uvulopalatopharyngoplasty for patients with OSA: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors:
Antonino Maniaci, Milena Di Luca, Jerome René Lechien, Giannicola Iannella, Calogero Grillo, Caterina Maria Grillo, Federico Merlino, Christian Calvo-Henriquez, Andrea De Vito, Giuseppe Magliulo, Annalisa Pace, Claudio Vicini, Salvatore Cocuzza, Vittoria Bannò, Isabella Pollicina, Giovanna Stilo, Alberto Bianchi, Ignazio La Mantia
Published in:
Sleep and Breathing
|
Issue 4/2022
Login to get access
Abstract
Objectives
To compare the efficacy and success rates of lateral pharyngoplasty techniques (LP) vs. uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) among adult patients surgically treated for obstructive sleep apnea.
Methods
A systematic literature review of the last 20 years’ papers was conducted using PubMed/Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Scholar, and the Cochrane Library until April 2021. Only full-text English articles comparing LP and UPPP outcomes in adult patients with objective outcomes were included in the study.
Results
We included 9 articles for a total of 312 surgically treated patients with OSA. LP techniques for obstructive sleep apnea were used on 186 (60%) subjects, while 126 patients (40%) were treated with UPPP. Both surgical procedures resulted in significant improvements in apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) score, and lowest oxygen saturation (LOS) (p < 0.001 in all cases). Although better outcomes were reported with lateral pharyngoplasty, the differences were not significant compared to UPPP post-operative results (p > 0.05 in all cases).
Conclusions
UPPP and LP are both effective surgical procedures in treating OSA in adults. Although not significant, LPs demonstrated improved post-operative outcomes. However, further evidence comparing the surgical effect on patients with OSA is needed to discriminate post-operative outcomes.