Uvulopalatoplasty

Last updated
Uvulopalatoplasty
ICD-9-CM 27.6, 27.7

Uvulopalatoplasty is a surgical procedure performed with the aim of reducing or eliminating snoring. It is an out-patient procedure, in which a laser is used to remove parts or all of the uvula at the rear of the mouth. [1] The surgery usually requires three to five visits, with each lasting less than 30 minutes. [2] It is performed with the patient awake under local anesthesia, and normal functions can be resumed after the operation. An LAUP (Laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty) procedure typically costs between two and three thousand American dollars. The principal side effect is a severe sore throat which can last from 7 – 10 days. [3] Speaking is not usually affected. Typically a CO2 type laser is used.[ citation needed ]

Uvulopalatoplasty was developed in the 1980s by Dr. Yves-Victor Kamami, a surgeon of the Marie-Louise Clinic in Paris, France, who published his first articles on the subject in 1990. Kamami claimed that it was not only a successful treatment for snoring, but also for obstructive sleep apnea. Early results seemed favourable, and studies of flawed methodology were published. Long-term follow-up information was omitted entirely. The practice of using lasers to address snoring became widespread. Some surgeons have since stated that the procedure is not as effective as Kamami claimed, while others report a success rate of 85%. The difference depends largely on the surgeon's experience and ability. During the late 1990s and the 2000s, researchers (including Finkelstein, [4] Schmidt, Larrosa [5] and others) published data which questioned the efficiency of the treatment and demonstrated that in a considerable number of cases, laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty may also cause mild obstructive sleep apnea in patients who has been nonapneic snorers, or lead to deterioration of existing apnea. These results are attributable to thermal damage inflicted by the laser beam. The laser may induce progressive palatal fibrosis, accompanied by medial traction of the posterior tonsillar pillars i.e., scar tissue reduces the airspace in the pharynx leading to velopharyngeal insufficiency. The scar tissue can also make the airway more prone to collapse during sleep. LAUP can be a medically induced cause of sleep apnea. Despite adverse results, LAUP continues to be administered by a minority of surgeons. [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Otorhinolaryngology</span> Medical specialty

Otorhinolaryngology ( oh-toh-RY-noh-LARR-in-GOL-ə-jee, abbreviated ORL and also known as otolaryngology, otolaryngology  head and neck surgery, or ear, nose, and throat is a surgical subspeciality within medicine that deals with the surgical and medical management of conditions of the head and neck. Doctors who specialize in this area are called otorhinolaryngologists, otolaryngologists, head and neck surgeons, or ENT surgeons or physicians. Patients seek treatment from an otorhinolaryngologist for diseases of the ear, nose, throat, base of the skull, head, and neck. These commonly include functional diseases that affect the senses and activities of eating, drinking, speaking, breathing, swallowing, and hearing. In addition, ENT surgery encompasses the surgical management of cancers and benign tumors and reconstruction of the head and neck as well as plastic surgery of the face, scalp, and neck.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sleep apnea</span> Disorder involving pauses in breathing during sleep

Sleep apnea, also spelled sleep apnoea, is a sleep disorder in which pauses in breathing or periods of shallow breathing during sleep occur more often than normal. Each pause can last for a few seconds to a few minutes and they happen many times a night. In the most common form, this follows loud snoring. A choking or snorting sound may occur as breathing resumes. Because the disorder disrupts normal sleep, those affected may experience sleepiness or feel tired during the day. In children, it may cause hyperactivity or problems in school.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snoring</span> Vibratory sound made while asleep

Snoring is the vibration of respiratory structures and the resulting sound due to obstructed air movement during breathing while sleeping. The sound may be soft or loud and unpleasant. Snoring during sleep may be a sign, or first alarm, of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Research suggests that snoring is one of the factors of sleep deprivation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Obesity hypoventilation syndrome</span> Condition in which severely overweight people fail to breathe rapidly or deeply enough

Obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) is a condition in which severely overweight people fail to breathe rapidly or deeply enough, resulting in low oxygen levels and high blood carbon dioxide (CO2) levels. The syndrome is often associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which causes periods of absent or reduced breathing in sleep, resulting in many partial awakenings during the night and sleepiness during the day. The disease puts strain on the heart, which may lead to heart failure and leg swelling.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tonsillectomy</span> Surgical removal of the tonsils

Tonsillectomy is a surgical procedure in which both palatine tonsils are fully removed from the back of the throat. The procedure is mainly performed for recurrent tonsillitis, throat infections and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). For those with frequent throat infections, surgery results in 0.6 fewer sore throats in the following year, but there is no evidence of long term benefits. In children with OSA, it results in improved quality of life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LASIK</span> Corrective ophthalmological surgery

LASIK or Lasik, commonly referred to as laser eye surgery or laser vision correction, is a type of refractive surgery for the correction of myopia, hyperopia, and an actual cure for astigmatism, since it is in the cornea. LASIK surgery is performed by an ophthalmologist who uses a laser or microkeratome to reshape the eye's cornea in order to improve visual acuity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Positive airway pressure</span> Mechanical ventilation in which airway pressure is always above atmospheric pressure

Positive airway pressure (PAP) is a mode of respiratory ventilation used in the treatment of sleep apnea. PAP ventilation is also commonly used for those who are critically ill in hospital with respiratory failure, in newborn infants (neonates), and for the prevention and treatment of atelectasis in patients with difficulty taking deep breaths. In these patients, PAP ventilation can prevent the need for tracheal intubation, or allow earlier extubation. Sometimes patients with neuromuscular diseases use this variety of ventilation as well. CPAP is an acronym for "continuous positive airway pressure", which was developed by Dr. George Gregory and colleagues in the neonatal intensive care unit at the University of California, San Francisco. A variation of the PAP system was developed by Professor Colin Sullivan at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, Australia, in 1981.

Upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS) is a sleep disorder characterized by the narrowing of the airway that can cause disruptions to sleep. The symptoms include unrefreshing sleep, fatigue, sleepiness, chronic insomnia, and difficulty concentrating. UARS can be diagnosed by polysomnograms capable of detecting Respiratory Effort-related Arousals. It can be treated with lifestyle changes, orthodontics, surgery, or CPAP therapy. UARS is considered a variant of sleep apnea, although some scientists and doctors believe it to be a distinct disorder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mandibular advancement splint</span>

A mandibi splint or mandibi advancement splint is a prescription custom-made medical device worn in the mouth used to treat sleep-related breathing disorders including: obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), snoring, and TMJ disorders. These devices are also known as mandibular advancement devices, sleep apnea oral appliances, oral airway dilators, and sleep apnea mouth guards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Obstructive sleep apnea</span> Sleeping and breathing disorder

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common sleep-related breathing disorder and is characterized by recurrent episodes of complete or partial obstruction of the upper airway leading to reduced or absent breathing during sleep. These episodes are termed "apneas" with complete or near-complete cessation of breathing, or "hypopneas" when the reduction in breathing is partial. In either case, a fall in blood oxygen saturation, a disruption in sleep, or both, may result. A high frequency of apneas or hypopneas during sleep may interfere with the quality of sleep, which – in combination with disturbances in blood oxygenation – is thought to contribute to negative consequences to health and quality of life. The terms obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) or obstructive sleep apnea–hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) may be used to refer to OSA when it is associated with symptoms during the daytime.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orthognathic surgery</span> Surgery of the jaw

Orthognathic surgery, also known as corrective jaw surgery or simply jaw surgery, is surgery designed to correct conditions of the jaw and lower face related to structure, growth, airway issues including sleep apnea, TMJ disorders, malocclusion problems primarily arising from skeletal disharmonies, and other orthodontic dental bite problems that cannot be treated easily with braces, as well as the broad range of facial imbalances, disharmonies, asymmetries, and malproportions where correction may be considered to improve facial aesthetics and self-esteem.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty</span>

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty is a surgical procedure or sleep surgery used to remove tissue and/or remodel tissue in the throat. This could be because of sleep issues. Tissues which may typically be removed include:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palatal expansion</span> Orthodontics device to widen the upper jaw

A palatal expander is a device in the field of orthodontics which is used to widen the upper jaw (maxilla) so that the bottom and upper teeth will fit together better. This is a common orthodontic procedure. Although the use of an expander is most common in children and adolescents 8–18 years of age, it can also be used in adults, although expansion is slightly more uncomfortable and takes longer. A patient who would rather not wait several months for the end result by a palatal expander may be able to opt for a surgical separation of the maxilla. Use of a palatal expander is most often followed by braces to then straighten the teeth.

Hypopnea is overly shallow breathing or an abnormally low respiratory rate. Hypopnea is defined by some to be less severe than apnea, while other researchers have discovered hypopnea to have a "similar if not indistinguishable impact" on the negative outcomes of sleep breathing disorders. In sleep clinics, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome or obstructive sleep apnea–hypopnea syndrome is normally diagnosed based on the frequent presence of apneas and/or hypopneas rather than differentiating between the two phenomena. Hypopnea is typically defined by a decreased amount of air movement into the lungs and can cause oxygen levels in the blood to drop. It commonly is due to partial obstruction of the upper airway.

Pharyngeal flap surgery is a procedure to correct the airflow during speech. The procedure is common among people with cleft palate and some types of dysarthria.

Somnoplasty is a trademark by Somnus Medical Technologies used for its radiofrequency ablation medical devices cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat habitual snoring, chronic nasal obstruction, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) to shrink the tissues that are causing obstruction. Somnoplasty is typically an outpatient procedure that takes 30–45 minutes.

Sleep surgery is a surgery performed to treat sleep disordered breathing. Sleep disordered breathing is a spectrum of disorders that includes snoring, upper airway resistance syndrome, and obstructive sleep apnea. These surgeries are performed by surgeons trained in otolaryngology, oral maxillofacial surgery, and craniofacial surgery.

Hyoid suspension, also known as hyoid myotomy and suspension or hyoid advancement, is a surgical procedure or sleep surgery in which the hyoid bone and its muscle attachments to the tongue and airway are pulled forward with the aim of increasing airway size and improving airway stability in the retrolingual and hypopharyngeal airway. The horseshoe shaped hyoid bone sits directly below the base of tongue with the arms of the bone flanking the airway. Hyoid suspension is typically performed as a treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This procedure is frequently performed with a uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) which targets sites of obstruction higher in the airway. Typically, a hyoid suspension is considered successful when the patient's apnea-hypopnea index is significantly reduced after surgery.

TransOral Robotic Surgery (TORS) is a modern surgical technique used to treat tumors of the mouth and throat via direct access through the mouth. TransOral Robotic Sleep Apnea (TORSA) surgery utilizes the same approach to open the upper airway of patients with obstructive sleep apnea. In TORS and TORSA procedures, the surgeon uses a surgical robot to view and access structures in the oral cavity (mouth) and pharynx (back of the throat) without any incisions through the neck, chin or lip (these incisions are necessary in traditional, non-robotic approaches). Current TORS techniques include radical tonsillectomy, resection of palate and base of skull tumors, hemiglossectomy and resection of tumors above and involving the larynx. The TORSA technique is used for uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, hemiglossectomy, and other airway procedures.

An elongated soft palate is a congenital hereditary disorder that negatively affect dogs and cats' breathing and eating. A soft palate is considered elongated when it extends past the top of the epiglottis and/or past the middle of the tonsillar crypts. The soft palate is made up of muscle and connective tissue located in the posterior portion on the roof of the mouth. The soft palate creates a barrier between the mouth and nose. This continuation between the cavities makes it possible to chew and breathe at the same time. The soft palate only blocks the nasal cavity while swallowing. At rest the soft palate should only stretch caudally from the hard palate to the tip of the epiglottis leaving an opening between the nasal and oral cavities. When the soft palate is elongated, it partially blocks the throat thereby creating breathing and feeding-related issues. The elongation and other accompanying symptoms occur in breeds characterized with “smooshed faces” such as pugs, bulldogs, and Persian cats. This condition is a congenital, meaning it is present when the animal is born. The “smooshed” characteristics is the result of a genetic mutation. The animal’s genetic code causes the bones in their skull to grow to a smaller size. Because the bones are smaller, muscles and other tissues that surround the bones of the skull are out of proportion. These animals are often referred to as brachycephalic, derived from the Greek words for “short” and “head”. An elongated soft palate is a symptom of Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) and is common in brachycephalic dog breeds and has been reported in brachycephalic cat breeds as well. Some of the other BOAS related symptoms include stenotic nares, everted laryngeal saccules, and laryngeal collapse.

References

  1. "Snoring Surgery - procedure, recovery, test, blood, removal, pain, complications, adults, time, operation, medication, heart, cells, types, risk, children, rate, Definition". Surgeryencyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2012-11-15.
  2. "One-Stage Laser-Assisted Uvulopalatoplasty". Islandnet.com. Retrieved 2012-11-15.
  3. "Otolaryngology: Laser-Assisted Uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP): Washington University Physicians in St. Louis, MO". Wuphysicians.wustl.edu. 2003-03-17. Retrieved 2012-11-15.
  4. "Syndrome des apnées obstructives du sommeil : les résultats mitigés de l'uvulopalatoplastie assistée par laser". Caducee.net. Retrieved 2015-05-16.
  5. Larrosa F, Hernandez L, Morello A, Ballester E, Quinto L, Montserrat JM (July 2004). "Laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty for snoring: does it meet the expectations?". Eur. Respir. J. 24 (1): 66–70. doi: 10.1183/09031936.04.00082903 . PMID   15293606.
  6. In some instances, Laup has caused severe long time side effects with serious pain, feling row and sleepless disorder. In Norway these occurrences have caused almost stop in use of Laup because the high cost economical and personally for the harmed patients.

Norwegian NPE and NPR