Reconstruction of Airway Soft Tissues in Obstructive Sleep Apnea

• Published in: Oral and maxillofacial surgery clinics of North America Vol. 21; no. 4; pp. 435 - 445
• Main Authors: Woodson, B. Tucker, MD, O'Connor, Peter D., MD, OD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-11-2009
• Subjects: Adenoidectomy; Adenotonsillectomy; Dentistry; Glossectomy; Humans; Nasal Obstruction - surgery; Nasal surgery snoring; Obstructive sleep apnea; Palate - surgery; Palatopharyngoplasty; Pharynx - surgery; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures - methods; Respiratory System - surgery; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive - surgery; Surgery; Tongue - surgery; Tonsillectomy; Tracheotomy; Palatopharyngoplasty; Glossectomy; Adenotonsillectomy; Obstructive sleep apnea; Nasal surgery snoring
• ISSN: 1042-3699; 1558-1365
• DOI: 10.1016/j.coms.2009.08.005

Surgery for obstructive sleep apnea is multimodal. Procedures and aims of treatment vary. Surgery, medical devices, and medical therapy each may contribute to individualized patient care. There is no single procedure or intervention that “cures” upper airway obstruction. Treatment varies as the disease varies. In addition, surgical treatment varies because the level of obstruction and influence on air flow occurs at multiple levels and from many structures. This article is not intended as a critical assessment of surgical outcomes but rather focuses on airway structures and the nature of the procedures applied to influence them.