THE TREATMENT OF OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA SYNDROME WITH UVULOPALATAL FLAP

¹SSK, KBB, Ankara, Türkiye
²SSK, Göğüs Hastalıkları, Ankara, Türkiye
³SSK, Bartın Hastanesi, Bartın, Türkiye Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) is a characterized with the upper airway obstruction intervals during sleep and decrease in blood oxygen saturation (S02). In this study we evaluate objectively the efficacy of Uvulapalatal Flap (UPF) treatment of the OUAS patients by using polysomnography (PSG). The study group consisted of 16 patients (3 female, 13 male) who suffered from snoring, apnea and daytime sleepiness and with an apnea hypopnea index (AHI) > 5. Müller Maneuer was performed to find degree of obstruction in all patients. The patients with nasal pathology and craniofacial abnormality were excluded. The patients underwent UPF. The efficacy of the treatment was evaluated with PSG at postoperative 3rd month.Subjective symptoms (such as snoring, apnea, arousal and daytime activities) were classified with 0 to 3 points for each patients preoperative and postoperatively. We analyzed these data with T-test. The values of postoperative AHİ decreased %58.48. Apnea and hipopnea decreased to %73.04 and %44.58, respectively. Mean desaturation value increased %20.4. The method of UPF is effective for the patients who have orofarengeal obstruction and AHI £ 20. For the patients whose AHI score ³ 20, desaturation level increase with this method. This also made to tolerate continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) who have to take CPAP postoperatively. The complication rate of UPF is lower. In conclusion, UPF is a promising procedure in the selected cases. Keywords : Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, uvulopalatal flap