[Modified-coblation assisted UPPP in treatment of severe obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome]

To explore a new way to modify the UPPP and to assess the operative efficacy of modified-coblation assisted UPPP (M-CAUP) on patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).

A retrospective analysis was made on surgical therapeutic effect of M-CAUP performed in our hospital.

87 adult inpatients with severe OSAHS were involved in the study whose preoperative AHI were beyond 30/h and LSaO2 were under or equal to 85%. All those had the primary level obstruction within the retropalatal region as determined by PSG and airway pressure fluctuation monitoring (ApneaGraph 200, MRA-Medical Ltd, Gloucestershire UK) . The surgical approach of M-CAUP: (1) bilateral tonsillectomy by using Arthrocare EVac 70 T&A Wand. (2) dissection of velum palatinum space by using Arthrocare EVac 70 T&A Wand, ablation of fat tissue to removed it from the space, avoiding injure levator palatini muscle and tensor palatini muscle and preserving musculus uvula, maintaining the normal structure of oropharynx. (3) ablation of channel of soft palate by using Arthrocare EVac 55 T&A Wand to reduce the volume of soft palate moderately. (4) plasty: suturing the tonsilar fossa to close the space, interrupted suture two sides of palatine arch and uvula. All patients were followed up for six to eighteen months postoperatively and received PSG.

After M-CAUP, the pharyngeal cavity was enlarged while the basic structure of oropharynx was maintained and no nasopharyngeal refluxing occurred. The subjective symptoms were also improved evidently after operation. After operation, the AHI and Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) decreased while LSaO2 increased. The reduction of AHI and ESS had statistical significance (P < 0.01), and the rise of LSaO2 also had statistical significance (P < 0.01). The total effective ratio of the operation was 89.7%.

Despite of various treatment, the operative efficacy of conventional UPPP was almost not ideal on severe OSAHS due to complex pathogeny. It was proved that M-CAUP was an effective surgical treatment of severe OSAHS with less blood loss. The operation was minimally invasive and maintained the normal functions of palatopharynx in principle. It could be applied in clinical practice.