Objective:To compare the changes of morphology of pharynx in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome （OSAHS） and healthy individuals during oral or nasal breathing, and explore the relevant influencing factors. Methods:Twenty-nine adult patients with OSAHS and 20 non-snoring controls underwent MRI to obtain upper airway structural measurements while the subjects were awake and during mouth breathing with a nasal clip.The following were analyzed. ①The changes of upper airway structure of oral and nasal respiration in non-snoring control/OSAHS patients were observed; ②The differences and influencing factors of upper airway structure changes between OSAHS patients and controls were compared during breathing. Results:The control group consisted of 15 males and 5 females, with an apnea-hypopnea index （AHI）<5 events/h, while the OSAHS group comprised 26 males and 3 females with an AHI of 40.4±23.1 events/h and the mean lowest arterial oxygen saturation （LSaO2） was 79.5% ±10.0%. In the both groups, the vertical distance between the mandible and the posterior pharyngeal wall decreased （P<0.05）; The long axis of tongue body decreased （P<0.05）, and the contact area between tongue and palate decreased. There was no significant change in the total volume of the retropalatine（RP） and retroglossal（RG） airway in the control group （P>0.05）. However, the minimum cross-sectional area and volume of the RP airway in OSAHS decreased （P<0.001）. The lateral diameters of uvula plane in OSAHS decreased during mouth breathing, which was contrary to the trend in the control group （P=0.017）. The AHI of patients was positively correlated with the reduction of the volume of the RP airway during oral breathing （P=0.001）; The reduction of the distance between the mandible and the posterior pharyngeal wall was positively correlated with the length of the airway （P<0.001）. Conclusion:Mouth breathing leads to the shortening of the long axis of the tongue, the reduction of the contact area between the soft palate and the tongue, vertical distance between the mandible and the posterior pharyngeal wall, and the cross-sectional area of the epiglottis plane. These changes vary between OSAHS patients and controls. During mouth breathing, the diameters, areas and volumes of the RP area decreased, and were more significant in severe cases.
Male ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Mouth Breathing ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive/surgery* ; Pharynx/surgery* ; Palate, Soft ; Uvula/surgery* ; Syndrome

Objective: To explore the efficacy of relocation and expansion pharyngoplasty by suspension sutures in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). Methods: Seventy-three patients(including 60 males and 13 females) with OSAHS admitted to the department of otorhinolaryngology of our hospital in recent two years were retrospectively analyzed. All the patients had velopharyngeal obstructionevaluated by electronic endoscopic Müller test and were divided into control group (34 cases) and observation group (39 cases). The patients in the control group were performed modified uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, while those in the observation group were performed relocation and expansion pharyngoplasty by suspension sutures.The scores of ESS, AHI and LSaO₂ before and after treatment were collected and compared. Results: The total effective rate of the observation group was 94.87%, which was significantly higher than 79.41% of the control group. The AHI was lower and LSaO₂ value was higher (χ²=-1. 896,-1. 968,P<0.05)in the observation group. The sleeping symptoms and quality of life of the two groups were significantly improved. The ESS score of the observation group was decreased more significantly than that of the control group after treatment, and the difference was statistically significant (χ²=-1.451,P<0.05). The incidence of foreign body sensation in pharynx of the observation group (89.74%) was higher than that of the control group (55.88%), and the postoperative bleeding and postoperative recurrence rate (0.00%, 2.56%) was lower than that of the control group (8.82%, 14.70%)with statistical significance (χ²=4.738,4.249,4.119,P<0.05).The incidence of transient nasopharyngeal reflux in both groups was low and statistically insignificant (χ²=0.629,P>0.05). Conclusions: Preoperative strict screening of indications plays an important role in the selection of palatopharyngeal surgery methods and curative effect. Relocation and expansion pharyngoplasty by suspension sutures can improve the clinical efficacy of OSAHS with better safety and less recurrence.
Female ; Humans ; Male ; Palate, Soft/surgery* ; Pharynx/surgery* ; Quality of Life ; Retrospective Studies ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive/surgery* ; Sutures

OBJECTIVE: To analyze velopharyngeal closure patterns and speech characteristics of patients with congenital velopharyngeal insufficiency. METHODS: Patients visiting the Department of Cleft Lip and Palate Surgery, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University between 2009 and 2017 were reviewed. Outcomes of subjective speech evaluation, including resonance, consonant articulation, and correction rate, were analyzed. Furthermore, the mobility of soft palate and pharyngeal walls under nasopharyngeal fiberscope were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: A total of 47 cases were retrieved and subjected to nasopharyngeal fiberscopic examination. Among them, 29 (61.7%) demonstrated a circular closure pattern, 16 (34.0%) showed a coronal pattern, and 2 (4.3%) had a sagittal pattern. Furthermore, 25 (53.2%) presented medium soft-palate mobility, 22 (46.8%) had weak lateral pharyngeal wall mobility, and 41 (87.2%) had no posterior pharyngeal wall mobility. Among all of the patients, 23 (48.9%) presented medium hypernasality, accounting for the highest proportion. Consonant misarticulation occurred in 89.4% of the cases. The articulation manners with the highest correction rate were in the following order: nasal, lateral, fricatives, stops, and affricates. The articulation places with the highest correction rate were in the following order: bilabial, alveolar, velar, and linguadental. CONCLUSIONS Circular closure was the most prevalent velopharyngeal closure pattern among patients with congenital velopharyngeal insufficiency, and consonant omission was the most common articulation abnormality.
China ; Cleft Palate/surgery* ; Humans ; Palate, Soft ; Pharynx ; Retrospective Studies ; Speech ; Treatment Outcome ; Velopharyngeal Insufficiency

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the versatility and reach of modified nasolabial flap used in reconstruction of defects created in and around the oral cavity. METHODS: A total number of 20 cases were selected. Out of which 13 were males and 7 females. The age of these patients ranged from 24–63 years. 29 modified nasolabial flaps were raised in twenty patients. Based on clinical and histopathological examination, out of 20 patients, 14 patients were diagnosed with oral submucous fibrosis, 3 with verrucous carcinoma, 1 with squamous papilloma, 1 with oro-antral fistula and 1 with traumatic loss of lower lip. RESULTS: Minimum preoperative interincisal distance (IID) was 0 mm and maximum was 15 mm with mean of 6.00±4.76 mm in patients with oral submucous fibrosis and 12 months postoperatively minimum IID was 16 mm and maximum was 41 mm with mean of 28.00±8.96 mm. In one case, dehiscence (3.4%) was noted on the anterior tip for which tip revision was done. Bulky appearance of the flap intraorally was observed in 2 cases (6.9%). Five (17.2%) among the 29 flaps had visible scar at the donor site postoperatively up to 3 months. CONCLUSION: Numerous reconstructive techniques have been employed in the reconstruction of small to intermediate sized defects of oral cavity. Modified nasolabial flap is a versatile flap which has robust vascularity and can be successfully used with minimal complications. It can be rotated intraorally to extend from the soft palate to the lip. Thus, it can be used efficiently to treat the small defects of the oral cavity as well as recreating lost lip structure.
Carcinoma, Verrucous ; Cicatrix ; Female ; Fistula ; Humans ; Lip ; Male ; Mouth ; Oral Submucous Fibrosis ; Palate, Soft ; Papilloma ; Precancerous Conditions ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Surgery, Oral* ; Surgical Flaps ; Tissue Donors

BACKGROUND: Two-jaw surgery including mandibular and maxillary backward movement procedures are commonly performed to correct class III malocclusion. Bimaxillary surgery can reposition the maxillofacial bone together with soft tissue, such as the soft palate and the tongue base. We analyzed changes of pharyngeal airway narrowing to ascertain clinical correlations with the prevalence of snoring after two-jaw surgery. METHODS: A prospective clinical study was designed including a survey on snoring and three-dimensional (3D) computed tomography (CT) in class III malocclusion subjects before and after bimaxillary surgery. We conducted an analysis on changes of the posterior pharyngeal space find out clinical correlations with the prevalence of snoring. RESULTS: Among 67 subjects, 12 subjects complained about snoring 5 weeks after the surgical correction, and examining the 12 subjects after 6 months, 6 patients complained about the snoring. The current findings demonstrated the attenuation of the largest transverse width (LTW), anteroposterior length (APL), and cross-sectional area (CSA) following bimaxillary surgery given to class III malocclusion patients, particularly at the retropalatal level. The average distance of maxillary posterior movements were measured to be relatively higher (horizontal distance 3.9 mm, vertical distance 2.6 mm) in case of new snorers. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that bimaxillary surgery could lead to the narrowing of upper airway at the retropalatal or retroglossal level as well as triggering snoring in subjects with class III malocclusion. Based on the current clinical findings, we also found that upper airway narrowing at retropalatal level may contribute to increasing the probability of snoring and that polysonography may need to be performed before orthognathic surgery in subjects with class III malocclusion.
Clinical Study ; Humans ; Malocclusion ; Orthognathic Surgery* ; Palate, Soft ; Prevalence ; Prospective Studies ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; Snoring* ; Tongue

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) has proven very effective in the treatment of adult obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). However, the CPAP device must be used every day and is associated with some discomfort. As a result, many patients do not comply with physician-recommended CPAP usage. Surgical intervention for OSAS eliminates issues with patient non-compliance. Although it is less effective than CPAP, surgery represents a feasible alternative for patients who are non-compliant with CPAP usage, have mild to moderate OSAS without significant comorbidities, or suffer from simple snoring. Nasal surgery can also reduce an individual's CPAP pressure requirement and thus increase compliance. Of the various surgical procedures available, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, which removes excess tissue from the soft palate and pharynx, is successful only in selected patients, while multilevel surgery is more effective. For example, maxillomandibular advancement is promising, although it is associated with potential morphological change in the airway. Radiofrequency ablation and palatal implants are minimally invasive interventions for simple snoring and mild OSAS. In morbidly obese patients, bariatric surgery has proven particularly effective. Finally and most recently, surgically implanted devices that stimulate the hypoglossal nerve have been investigated.
Adult ; Bariatric Surgery ; Catheter Ablation ; Comorbidity ; Compliance ; Continuous Positive Airway Pressure ; Humans ; Hypoglossal Nerve ; Nasal Surgical Procedures ; Palate, Soft ; Patient Compliance ; Pharynx ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive* ; Snoring ; Surgical Procedures, Operative

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of different maintain doses of Dexmedetomidine on plasma cortisol and glucose during anesthesia recovery period in patients undergoing uvulopalatopharyngoplasty under sevoflurane inhalation anesthesia. METHOD: In this prospective, randomized, double-blind study, 120 ASA I and II patients undergoing selective uvulopalatopharyngoplasty under general anesthesia were included. The patients were randomly allocated to three groups (n = 40): Dexmedetomidine low maintain dose group (D1), Dexmedetomidine high maintain dose group (group D2) and control group (group C). The Dexmedetomidine groups and control group were given Dexmedetomidine 1 microg/kg and normal saline in 20 ml within 15 min just before induction of anesthesia. Then Dexmedetomidine were maintained at 0.2 microg x kg(-1) x h(-1) and 0.7 microg x kg(-1) x h(-1) in group D1 and group D2 and were withdrawed 5 min before the end of operation, the same maintained speed of normal saline was given in group C. BIS value was maintained at 40-60 by adjusting the inhaled concentration of sevoflurane. Anesthetic was withdrawed 10 min before the end of operation. Thus, plasma cortisol concentration and blood glucose was needed to be detected just before anesthesia (T0), tracheal extubation (T1), 5 min after extubation (T2) and 15 min after extubation (T3). Duration of operation and anesthesia, consumption of sevoflurane, emergence time, extubation time, the occurrence of dysphoria, bucking and hypoxemia (SpO2 < 90%) during extubation were recorded. RESULT: Compared with group C, MAP and HR at T1, plasma cortisol concentration and blood glucose at T1 - T3 were all significantly lower in group D1 and group D2 (P < 0.05), and so were the consumption of sevoflurane and the occurrence of dysphoria (P < 0.05). The emergence time and extubation time were significantly prolonged in group D2 compared with group D1 and group C (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the occurrence of bucking and hypoxemia in three groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION In the patients undergoing UPPP under sevoflurane inhalation anesthesia, Dexmedetomidine infused at 0.2 microg x kg(-1) x h(-1) maintains a stable hemodynamics without respiratory depression, alleviates stress response during extubation and reduces both the consumption of sevoflurane and the occurrence of dysphoria without prolonging emergence time and extubation time.
Adult ; Anesthesia Recovery Period ; Anesthesia, Inhalation ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Dexmedetomidine ; administration & dosage ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; blood ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; administration & dosage ; Male ; Methyl Ethers ; Middle Aged ; Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures ; Palate, Soft ; surgery ; Pharynx ; surgery ; Sevoflurane ; Uvula ; surgery

OBJECTIVE: To explore the curative effect of velopharyngoplasty (VPP) combined with hard palate shorting and soft palate forward in the treatment of type II moderately severe obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). METHOD: Thirty-two patients with OSAHS with and the obstructed surface located in soft palate were subjected to VPP combined with hard palate shorting and soft palate forward. The ESS scores, result of PSG included AHI and the lowest oxyhemoglobin saturation before and after operation were compared. RESULT: The effective rate of VPP was 78.12% this group. The grade of ESS, PSG and the lowest oxyhemoglobin saturation was statistically significant before and after the operation (P < 0.05). In the other 7 cases whose AHI decrease less than 50%, the grade of ESS, AHI and the lowest oxyhemoglobin saturation was also statistically significant. CONCLUSION VPP combined with hard palate shorting and soft palate forward can improve the surgical effective rate obviously for OSAHS patients.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Palate, Hard ; surgery ; Palate, Soft ; surgery ; Pharynx ; surgery ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; surgery ; Syndrome

Microvascular decompression is a very effective and relatively safe surgical modality in the treatment of hemifacial spasm. But rare debilitating complications have been reported such as cranial nerve dysfunctions. We have experienced a very rare case of unilateral soft palate palsy without the involvement of vocal cord following microvascular decompression. A 33-year-old female presented to our out-patient clinic with a history of left hemifacial spasm for 5 years. On postoperative 5th day, patient started to exhibit hoarsness with swallowing difficulty. Symptoms persisted despite rehabilitation. Various laboratory work up with magnetic resonance image showed no abnormal lesions. Two years after surgery patient showed complete recovery of unitaleral soft palate palsy. Various etiologies of unilateral soft palate palsy are reviewed as the treatment and prognosis differs greatly on the cause. Although rare, it is important to keep in mind that such complication could occur after microvascular decompression.
Cranial Nerves ; Deglutition ; Female ; Hemifacial Spasm ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Microvascular Decompression Surgery ; Outpatients ; Palate, Soft ; Paralysis ; Prognosis ; Vocal Cords

Nasopharyngeal stenosis (NPS) is a rare condition and classified as primary NPS (due to a disease process as syphilis) or secondary NPS (due to a surgery or radiotherapy) according to the etiology. Patients with NPS suffer significant morbidities, including nasal obstruction, phonatory changes, sleep disordered breathing, dysphagia, and otologic disturbances. Treatment modalities include wide range of strategies, such as local rotation flaps, free flaps, Z-plasty, prolonged stenting, insertion of obturators, and laser excision. However, treatment is difficult, often resulting in only short-term symptom relief and restenosis. The authors experienced a case of NPS following revisional palatopharyngoplasty in a 50-year-old man, which was treated successfully with balloon dilatation and topical mitomycin-C application. We present the etiology, symptoms, and treatment of this rare disease entity with a review of the literature.
Constriction, Pathologic* ; Deglutition Disorders ; Dilatation* ; Free Tissue Flaps ; General Surgery ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mitomycin* ; Nasal Obstruction ; Nasopharynx ; Palate, Soft ; Rare Diseases ; Reoperation ; Sleep Apnea Syndromes ; Stents