Snoring is caused by the vibration of the structures in the oral cavity and oropharynx—namely the soft palate, uvula, tonsils, base of the tongue, epiglottis, and pharyngeal walls. Many sleep authorities believe that it may represent an alarm to alert one to the possibility of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Obstructive sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder; Young et al. studied 602 state employees who attended overnight polysomnography and found that the incidence of sleep disordered breathing (SDB) was 24% in men and 9% in women [1]. Most of these patients are undiagnosed. It is estimated that up to 93% of females and 82% of males with moderate to severe OSA remain undiagnosed [2]. Obstructive sleep apnea is due to the collapsibility of the upper airway during sleep. These collapsible soft tissues when subjected to negative pressure within the upper airway may lead to complete or partial obstruction of the upper airway leading to cessation of breathing, increased sympathetic activity, increased blood pressure, and hypoxemia. Collapse of the upper airway is often multilevel, at the level of the palate/velopharynx, the base of the tongue, and/or the lateral pharyngeal walls. Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have either a thick redundant soft palate and/or bulky lateral pharyngeal walls that contribute to the collapse and obstruction of the upper airway in these patients. These areas of collapse should be addressed, if one is aiming to relieve the patient of the apneas.

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Anterior Palatoplasty

  • Kenny P. Pang,
  • Edward B. Pang,
  • Kathleen A. Pang

摘要

Snoring is caused by the vibration of the structures in the oral cavity and oropharynx—namely the soft palate, uvula, tonsils, base of the tongue, epiglottis, and pharyngeal walls. Many sleep authorities believe that it may represent an alarm to alert one to the possibility of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Obstructive sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder; Young et al. studied 602 state employees who attended overnight polysomnography and found that the incidence of sleep disordered breathing (SDB) was 24% in men and 9% in women [1]. Most of these patients are undiagnosed. It is estimated that up to 93% of females and 82% of males with moderate to severe OSA remain undiagnosed [2]. Obstructive sleep apnea is due to the collapsibility of the upper airway during sleep. These collapsible soft tissues when subjected to negative pressure within the upper airway may lead to complete or partial obstruction of the upper airway leading to cessation of breathing, increased sympathetic activity, increased blood pressure, and hypoxemia. Collapse of the upper airway is often multilevel, at the level of the palate/velopharynx, the base of the tongue, and/or the lateral pharyngeal walls. Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have either a thick redundant soft palate and/or bulky lateral pharyngeal walls that contribute to the collapse and obstruction of the upper airway in these patients. These areas of collapse should be addressed, if one is aiming to relieve the patient of the apneas.