Prospective multi-center study on expansion sphincter pharyngoplasty

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Sleep Medicine
• Surgical Innovation

Background:

• Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is a prevalent condition often requiring multifaceted treatment approaches.
• Current treatments for OSAHS carry varying success rates and patient adherence challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the long-term efficacy of Expansion Sphincter Pharyngoplasty (ESP) as a single-modality treatment for OSAHS.
• To assess key outcome metrics including apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) scores, and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) dependency post-surgery.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, multi-center study involving patients with OSAHS confirmed by drug-induced sleep endoscopy.
• Inclusion criteria focused on oropharyngeal lateral collapse and preoperative AHI between 5 and 70.
• ESP was performed as a standalone procedure with a minimum follow-up of 12 months.

Main Results:

• A total of 75 ESP procedures were analyzed.
• Significant reductions in mean AHI (22.1 to 8.6) and ESS scores (11.5 to 4.6) were observed (p < .001).
• Post-surgery, 33.3% of patients achieved an AHI < 5, and 82.6% were no longer dependent on CPAP.

Conclusions:

• Expansion Sphincter Pharyngoplasty (ESP) demonstrates considerable effectiveness as a standalone surgical option for OSAHS.
• The procedure offers a favorable success rate with low morbidity, providing a viable alternative for select OSAHS patients.
• ESP can lead to significant improvements in sleep apnea severity and quality of life, reducing the need for ongoing CPAP therapy.