Limited surgery may improve sleep apnea

February 17, 2004

Last Updated: 2004-02-16 16:00:17 -0400 (Reuters Health)

CHICAGO (Reuters) - A less invasive throat surgery than has been used

for sleep apnea appears more effective at correcting the disruptive

disorder, Taiwanese researchers reported on Monday.

While the study involved only 55 patients, they showed an 82-percent

success rate compared with the historical level of less than 50 percent

found in earlier, more invasive surgeries, according to the report from

researchers at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei.

Obstructive sleep apnea causes snoring and interruptions in breathing

during sleep. Surgical correction involves removal of some of the tissue

in the throat to widen the airway.

The modified technique used in the study, published in the new issue of

the Archives of Otolaryngology, is called extended uvulopalatal flap

surgery. It removes fatty tissues, soft glands and the tonsils to

increase airway space, but spares muscle tissue.

Patients, for whom the limited surgery worked, reported they snored

less, were less sleepy during the day and had higher blood oxygen

levels. The report did not explain why the limited technique worked

better.

" Extended uvulopalatal flap surgery can greatly reduce sleep-related

adverse events and proves to be an effective therapy to enhance the

quality of life of patients with obstructive sleep apnea, " the

researchers concluded.

SOURCE: Archives of Otolaryngology, February, 2004

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