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Different barbed pharyngoplasty techniques for retropalatal collapse in obstructive sleep apnea patients: a systematic review

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Abstract

Background

The use of barbed sutures (BS) for the treatment of retropalatal collapse and vibration in patients suffering from snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has significantly increased in the last few years. Many surgeons have discovered the advantages and unique properties of the BS and allowed the popular surgical pharyngoplasty techniques to be updated and improved.

Methods

A systematic review was performed to identify all the clinical studies concerning the different barbed pharyngoplasty (BP) techniques used for the treatment of palatal collapse in snoring and OSA patients. A qualitative analysis of data extracted was conducted.

Results

We included 12 studies of which 10 are prospective and 2 retrospective: 9 single-arm studies on the efficacy of a specific BP technique, 1 randomized clinical trial on the comparison between BP and control groups, and 2 studies on the correlation between two different BP techniques. To date, in the literature, 5 different types of BP techniques have been described: barbed snore surgery, barbed reposition pharyngoplasty, barbed expansion sphincter pharyngoplasty, barbed suture suspension, and barbed soft palate posterior webbing flap pharyngoplasty. All the studies showed an overall improvement in the primary efficacy parameters investigated (apnea-hypopnea index, oxygen desaturation index, and Epworth sleepiness scale) in each of the surgical techniques performed without any major complications.

Conclusions

Given the extreme heterogeneity of the studies analyzed, it is necessary to perform more randomized and control studies on large samples aimed to define the best BP technique based on its effectiveness, surgical success rate, patient’s compliance, and complications.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otolaryngology, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy

    Antonio Moffa, Valeria Fiore & Michele Cassano

  2. Integrated Sleep Surgery Team UCBM, Unit of Otolaryngology, Integrated Therapies in Otolaryngology, Campus Bio-Medico University, Rome, Italy

    Vittorio Rinaldi, Michelangelo Pierri & Manuele Casale

  3. Department of Otolaryngology, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Fondazione I.R.C.C.S. Ca’ Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

    Vittorio Rinaldi, Mario Mantovani & Lorenzo Pignataro

  4. Otorhinolaryngology Unit, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center-IRCCS, Rozzano, Milan, Italy

    Andrea Costantino

  5. Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy

    Andrea Costantino

  6. Unit of Otolaryngology, Clinica Universitaria de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain

    Peter Baptista

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  1. Antonio Moffa
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Correspondence to Antonio Moffa.

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Moffa, A., Rinaldi, V., Mantovani, M. et al. Different barbed pharyngoplasty techniques for retropalatal collapse in obstructive sleep apnea patients: a systematic review. Sleep Breath 24, 1115–1127 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-020-02088-z

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