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Objectives: To compare the efficacy and success rates of lateral pharyngoplasty techniques (LP) vs. uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) among adult patients surgically treated for obstructive sleep apnea., Methods: A systematic literature review of the last 20 years' papers was conducted using PubMed/Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Scholar, and the Cochrane Library until April 2021. Only full-text English articles comparing LP and UPPP outcomes in adult patients with objective outcomes were included in the study., Results: We included 9 articles for a total of 312 surgically treated patients with OSA. LP techniques for obstructive sleep apnea were used on 186 (60%) subjects, while 126 patients (40%) were treated with UPPP. Both surgical procedures resulted in significant improvements in apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) score, and lowest oxygen saturation (LOS) (p < 0.001 in all cases). Although better outcomes were reported with lateral pharyngoplasty, the differences were not significant compared to UPPP post-operative results (p > 0.05 in all cases)., Conclusions: UPPP and LP are both effective surgical procedures in treating OSA in adults. Although not significant, LPs demonstrated improved post-operative outcomes. However, further evidence comparing the surgical effect on patients with OSA is needed to discriminate post-operative outcomes., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of barbed reposition pharyngoplasty (BRP) on sleepiness, anxiety, and depression o adult patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)., Methods: We performed a prospective multicentric study to assess functional outcomes in 20 OSA patients treated with BRP and compare the results with an observational group of 20 subjects. All recruited subjects performed at baseline and 6-months postoperative follow-up Polysomnography (PSG), daytime sleepiness scoring using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and anxiety and depression evaluation via the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) questionnaires., Results: At follow-up the BRP demonstrated greater improvements in AHI (8.92 ± 2.29 vs. 30.66 ± 2.56; p < 0.001) and ODI (7.65 ± 2.39 vs. 24.55 ± 3.20; p < 0.001) than control at intergroup analysis. Surgical group reported significant data in daytime sleepiness (5.15 ± 1.19 vs. 13.15 ± 1.35; p < 0.001), anxiety (12.65 ± 3.11 vs. 24.2 ± 2.37; p < 0.001), and depression domains (5.85 ± 1.19 vs. 17.55 ± 3.24; p < 0.001). AHI, ODI, and advanced age have been shown to multiple regression as independent predictors of treatment response for mood domains (p < 0.001; p = 0.02; p = 0.041, respectively)., Conclusions: Patients with OSA may benefit from palate surgery, reducing not only the apnea and hypopnea index, daytime sleepiness but also associated mood comorbidities. However, further studies are needed to confirm our preliminary results to validate the evidence to date reported., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Purpose: In this paper, we perform a systematic review that discusses the state of the art and evolution on the barbed reposition pharyngoplasty (BRP) in the velo-pharyngeal surgery. Clinical evidence and published outcomes of this surgical technique are reported and discussed., Materials and Methods: We performed a systematic review of the current literature through the analysis of the last 10 years of literature on barbed palate surgery. Study design, number of patients enrolled, inclusion criteria, pre- and posttreatment outcomes (AHI, ODI), surgical success rate, follow-up time and complication has been collected and reported., Results: 15 studies for a total of 1531 patients, out of which 1061 underwent barbed reposition pharyngoplasty. Five trials were uncontrolled prospective studies (215 patients, 14% of total), nine were retrospective studies (1266 patients, 82,6% of total), and one randomized prospective clinical trial (RCT) (50 patients, 3,32% of total). All analyzed studies reported good outcomes after BRP surgery. Average preoperative values of AHI and ODI reduced in all studies considered with a significative statistical difference between preoperative and postoperative values (p < 0.05 in all cases). The postoperative surgical success rate ranged between 65.4 and 93% of cases. There were no significant intra-operative or post-operative complications in all studies considered in this systematic review., Conclusions: Barbed reposition pharyngoplasty has proven to be an easy to learn, quick, safe and effective new palatopharyngeal procedure, that can be used in a single level surgery or as a part of multilevel procedures., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Purpose: This meta-analysis study was designed to analyze the olfactory function in obstructive sleep apnea patients (OSA)., Methods: A comprehensive review of the English language literature regarding OSA patients and olfactory function/dysfunction was performed. The papers assessing olfactory dysfunction with Sniffin' Sticks test were taken into consideration., Results: A total of 420 OSA patients were judged eligible for the study. The average TDI score was found to be 24.3 ± 5.6. The olfactory identification (OD), the olfactory discrimination (OD), and the olfactory threshold (OT) average values were calculated resulting 9.9 ± 2.1, 9.8 ± 1.5, and 5.3 ± 2, respectively. There were 161 healthy control subjects in this meta-analysis. The average TDI of the control group was 30.7 ± 6.0 showing a statistical difference with the group of OSA patients (p = 0.03). A linear correlation between Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) increase and TDI decrease (R 2  = 0.1, p = 0.05) was detected. Finally, the average values of TDI of 151 patients classified as mild-moderate OSA and 159 patients considered as severe OSA were calculated. The difference between these two groups resulted not statistically significant (p = 0.3)., Conclusion: The comparison between OSA patients and healthy subjects using Sniffin' Sticks test showed lower values of the various olfactory parameters. Although a linear correlation between AHI increase and olfactory dysfunction was observed, no statistical difference between mild-moderate and severe OSA patients in terms of the severity of olfactory dysfunction could be proved.

Purpose: To show the different effects of expansion sphincter pharyngoplasty (ESP) and barbed reposition pharyngoplasty (BRP) on muscle tension and muscle fiber tearing using a comparative experimental stress test with a frog thigh muscle model., Methods: Frog thigh muscle was used for this experimental study. A Barbed suture was used to simulate the BRP pharyngoplasty whereas a Vicryl 3-0 suture was used to simulate the ESP technique. The other extremity of the suture was attached to traction scales. The traction scales were used to measure the weight relative to the amount of force required to obtain muscle breaking. Both surgical techniques were simulated on the frog muscle. Traction was performed until muscle breaking was observed, measuring the value of force needed to obtain muscle rupture., Results: Specimen muscle breakdown in the ESP simulation occurred with an average value of 0.7 kg of traction force. Contrarily, specimen muscle breakdown in the BRP simulation with Barbed suture occurred with an average value of 1.5 kg of traction force CONCLUSION: During simulation of the ESP technique, specimen muscle breakdown occurred with an average value of traction force lower than in the BRP technique. During traction the multiple lateral sustaining suture loops of BRP could ensure greater stability then the single pulling tip suture of ESP with minor risk of muscle fiber damage.

Background The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of position-dependent obstructive sleep apnea (POSA) in elderly patients (≥65 years old). Adult (range 19-65 years old) and elderly patients were also compared in order to show differences in the incidence of POSA between these two groups of patients. Methods A prospective bi-center study was performed between January 2018 and May 2019. A total of 434 participants underwent polysomnography (PSG) study at home (Embletta MPR). Body position during the PSG recordings was determined. Patients were subdivided in two groups: those aged between 19 and 65 years old (adult patients) and ≥65 years old (elderly patients). POSA patients were defined using Cartwright's system, Bignold classification, and the new Amsterdam Positional OSA Classification (APOC). Results The prevalence of POSA in elderly patients differed according to the classification system used: 49.3% using Cartwright's classification system, 20.5% with the Bignold classification, and 22.6%, 38.9%, and 5.4% of APOC 1, APOC 2, and APOC3 sub-classes were respectively identified for the APOC classification system. No difference between adult and elderly patients regarding the prevalence of POSA was observed. No statistical differences emerged between the two groups of patients in terms of supine ( p = 0.9) and non-supine AHI ( p = 0.4). Conclusions A significant number of elderly patients could be considered treatable with positional therapy according to the APOC classification. However, the efficacy and applicability of positional therapy in elderly patients must be confirmed by further research.

Purpose: Different authors have reported that aging could be associated with changes in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) related parameters (apnea/hypopnea index, SpO 2 , reduction of daytime sleepiness, etc.), type of sleep and pattern of collapse. Regarding OSA severity in elderly patients, it is commonly believed that the AHI score tends to increase with aging., Methods: In this paper, we reviewed the literature regarding the studies which compared older (> 65 years old) and young (< 65 years old) OSA patients regarding the effect of aging on daytime sleepiness (ESS evaluation) and OSA severity (AHI evaluation). A meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of age on daytime sleepiness and OSAS severity was also performed to corroborate previously reported experience., Results: Meta-analysis showed no statistical (p = 0.8) differences regarding AHI differences emerged from the comparison of the two groups of patients. Elderly patients (> 65 years old) showed less daytime sleepiness, showing a statistical difference in the meta-analysis of data (p = 0.004) CONCLUSION: Although a direct correlation between aging and AHI values would seem to be present, no significant differences in baseline AHI between young (< 65-years-old) and elderly (> 65-years-old) patients emerged in this meta-analysis study. The effects of OSAS on daytime sleepiness seem to be much more prominent in young or middle-aged patients than in elderly patients.

Background and Aim of the Work: In OSAHS, the hypoxia and reoxygenation cicles, maintain a state of oxidative stress, which seems to cause a change in the oxidative balance. Our aim is to compare the markers of oxidative stress with audiological findings and OSAHS severity, in OSAHS patients untreated and also treated ones, with cysteine and superoxide dismutase., Methods: 65 patients (42 Men, 23 Women) with 30-65 years age range have been enrolled, with a mean age of 52.6 ± 13.3 years with moderate OSAHS. We have analyzed plasma and lymphocyte markers of oxidative stress (glutathione, thioredoxin and heat shock protein) and they were underwent tonal audiometry. Patients were divided in two groups: Group A (32 patients) included patients treated for 8 weeks with cysteine and superoxide dismutase; Group B (33 patients) included patients untreated., Results: The research showed a significant increase in reduced glutathione levels (p<0.05) in OSAHS patients treated; conversely, it showed a decrease of oxidized glutathione level (p<0.05) in treated patients than OSAHS untreated ones. The thioredoxin values, in untreated OSAHS patients, appear to be reduced than in OSAHS patients treated (p<0.05), and that the heat shock protein values were more elevated in untreated OSAHS patients (p<0.05). Finally, it was found that a correlation exists between the severity of OSAHS and auditory dysfunction., Conclusions: The study of the oxidative stress markers has produced results which lead to support the idea that, in a personalized therapy context, the use of antioxidant therapy can cooperate effectively the first choice treatment.