Surgical treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS)

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome patients usually present with multiple areas of anatomic disproportions. The site or sites of obstruction must be accurately diagnosed preoperatively by a systematic means of examining the patient. This includes nasopharyngoscopy with Muller maneuver and sometimes cephalometrics. The surgical treatment is individualized to the site or sites of obstruction and can include tracheostomy, septoplasty, UPPP, geniohyoid advancement and suspension of the hyoid. For extreme cases advancement of the maxilla, mandible and hyoid bone are sometimes necessary.