Journal of Otolaryngology and Ophthalmology of Shandong University ›› 2025, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (3): 81-88.doi: 10.6040/j.issn.1673-3770.0.2024.507

• Shanghai Sixth Peoples Hospital Otorhinolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery Department dedicated to “120th Anniversary of the Sixth Hospital” Commemorative Theme • Previous Articles    

Modifications and applications of lateral expansion abduction suspension suture technique in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea

MA Xin, DONG Lingkang, WU Hongmin, YI Hongliang, ZOU Jianyin   

  1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine / Shanghai Key Laboratory of Sleep Disordered Breathing / Otolaryngology Institute of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200233, China
  • Published:2025-06-04

Abstract: Obstructive sleep apnea is a sleep-related breathing disorder characterized primarily by symptoms such as snoring, apnea, and daytime sleepiness. Currently, for patients who do not tolerate continuous positive airway pressure ventilation and have oropharyngeal obstruction, the clinic usually adopts suspensory palatopharyngoplasty. Nevertheless, recent studies have identified the lateral pharyngeal wall as the crucial point of obstruction to airflow. Consequently, many scholars have used this as a basis for improving or redesigning the surgical approach in order to expand the cross-sectional area of the pharyngeal cavity, reduce the severity of obstructive sleep apnea, and minimize patients' discomfort and complications. This article focuses on the current abduction suspension suture technique for the lateral pharyngeal wall, aiming to explore how to maximize the expansion of the lateral pharyngeal wall with minimal damage, improve the symptoms of patients with obstructive sleep apnea, and reduce postoperative complications, thus providing a useful reference for the relevant clinical treatment work.

Key words: Obstructive sleep Apnea, Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, Suture, Complications

CLC Number: 

  • R766.9
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