Expansion sphincter pharyngoplasty.

Clarification: Two suture methods are shown in a drawing in the video and either stitch can be used to secure the palatopharyngeal pedicle

o Symptomatic obstructive sleep apnea
o Obstruction located at the level of the velopharynx and accompanying lateral walls. This site determination is based on evaluations such as drug-induced sedated endoscopy and Friedman tongue position.
o Inability to tolerate or improve with positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy
o No improvement of symptoms with weight loss, oral appliance, or other non-surgical modalities

o No absolute contraindications
o Relative indications include high perioperative risk, anticoagulation and bleeding risk, poor nutritional status, pre-existing dysphagia or xerostomia, velopharyngeal insufficiency, or occupation dependent on pharyngeal function

Tools necessary include tonsillectomy set, monopolar needle-tip cautery, toothed forceps, right angle clamp, kittners on tonsillectomy forceps, Metzenbaum scissors, Haney needle driver, 2-0 polysorb sutures for muscle suspension, and 4-0 chromic sutures for mucosal closure

Workup begins with a detailed history of sleeping difficulties. Gold standard for diagnosis is polysomnography with AHI > 5 or RDI > 5 and the patient has documented symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep endoscopy is then utilized to determine anatomic location of obstruction to guide which treatment modality would be best effective.

o Insertion of palatopharyngeus into the soft palate
o Superior constrictors in lateral tonsillar fossa
o Pterygoid hamulus and buccopharyngeal raphe as anchors for muscle pedicle

o Main advantage over non-surgical therapy is anatomic widening of airway to provide larger airway without the use of appliances or PAP therapy. Advantage over classic uvulopalatalpharyngoplasty is that expansion sphincter pharyngoplasty is more reconstructive rather than excisional that improves effectiveness and decreases potential morbidities.
o Disadvantages include all surgical risks

o Standard operative risks: bleeding, infection, possible need for further surgery
o Velopharyngeal insufficiency
o Dysphagia

o Standard operative risks: bleeding, infection, possible need for further surgery
o Velopharyngeal insufficiency
o Dysphagia

None

1. o Dedhia RC, Soose RJ. Advanced Palatal Surgery. Myers & Snyderman (Eds) Operative Otolaryngology, 3rd edition.
2. Pang KP, Pang EB, Win MT, Pang KA, Woodson BT. Expansion sphincter pharyngoplasty for the treatment of OSA: a systemic review and meta-analysis. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2016;273(9):2329-2333.