Z-Pharyngoplasty for Sleep Disorder and Rhonchopathy

Abstract

We developed an operation that leaves the uvula intact and opens the pharynx by creating a Z-shaped incision in the palate, a procedure known as a Z-pharyngoplasty (ZPP). Twenty-four patients were studied before and after ZPPs. None of the patients complained of symptoms after the procedure. In terms of subjective changes, 79% of patients felt that they could breathe better after ZPPs and 75% felt that they had slept well upon waking. In terms of differences noted by sleep monitoring, the minimum oxygen saturation (SaO 2 ) level increased significantly ( p =0.0025), the number of hours of sleep during which SaO 2 was >95% increased significantly ( p =0.0345), the apnea index decreased significantly ( p =0.0316), snoring decreased ( p =0.0637) and pulse rate decreased significantly ( p =0.0144) after ZPP.

• Ankyloglossia
• With
• Deviation
• Epiglottis
• Larynx
• Pharynx
• Snoring
• Uvula
• Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty