Surgical Management of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

Min, Y G; Rhee, C S

Abstract

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome(OSAS), that is a complex disease of neuromuscular, respiratory and cardiovascular system, can be cured by various treatment such as weight control, medical and surgical intervention. As most of OSAS may be caused by various anatomical abnormalities, preoperative evaluation for exacet anatomical site of obstruction must be needed. And various diagnostic procedures such as fiberoptic nasopharyngoscopy, Mueller test, cinefluoroscopy, cephalometry, computerized tomography, polysomnography would be used for this purpose. Uvulopalotopharyngplasty is currently the most popular method for the patient with OSAS among various surgical maneuvers and is very effective for the relieving the symptoms as like snoring, daytime somnolence, and nocturnal restlessness etc. Although subjective improvement is not compatible with it's objective assessment in postoperative evaluation for it's results, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty could be a recommandable surgical procedure because of it's ample effectiveness in promoting symptom improvement without any risk of serious complications.