ABSTRACT
The incision is closed in layers after hemostasis is attained. A Penrose drain and pressure dressing is placed for 24 hr to decrease the risk of hematoma and seroma formation.
7. SURGICAL RESULTS
In a review of 239 patients treated between 1989 and 1992, with most requiring phase I surgery, which entails a GA, hyoid suspension, and UPPP (6), the overall results revealed a successful treatment in 61% of the patients. When evaluating those with mild to moderately severe OSAS (i.e., RDI < 60), there was an approximately 75% success rate. The surgical success declined to 42% when patients had severe OSAS (RDI > 60). Ramirez and Loube in 1996, using the same protocol, revealed in morbidly obese patients a 42% success rate, which was identical to the success rate in the study by Riley et al. in those with severe OSAS (7). Utley et al. noted the results of phase I surgery in 14 patients, revealing a 57.1% (8/14) success rate, defined as a reduction in the RDI by 50% and a postoperative RDI of <20 (8). Troell revealed 7 of 11 patients (63.6%) were successfully treated as defined by an RDI < 10 with resolution of EDS by a combination of UPPP, GA, and HM (9). The treatment outcomes of multiple-level pharyngeal surgery addressing both the retropalatal and retrolingual areas of collapse using the hyoid suspension in the surgical protocol yielded promising surgical results.
