Pharyngoplasty in the Treatment of Sleep Apnea: Efficacy of Surgical Techniques

Abstract

In sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (SAHS) a superior airway collapse can occur in the anteroposterioror lateral direction. The primary or secondary decrease in the tone of the dilating muscles of the pharynx, due to the negative pressure produced by the contraction of the diaphragm cause the collapse. Pharyngoplasty surgical techniques try to improve lateral collapse by repositioning the muscles that constitute the pharyngeal lateral wall, mainly the palatopharyngeal (PP), palatoglossal (PG) and upper constrictor (UC).