A New Philosophy in Surgical Management of Snoring: Tolerability and Effectiveness of the Barbed Roman Blinds Technique. (2nd September 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mantovani, Mario; Rinaldi, Vittorio; Salamanca, Fabrizio; Carioli, Daniela; Torretta, Sara; Pignataro, Lorenzo
• Is Part Of: Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery. Volume 151(2014)Supplement 1
• Page Start: P261
• Page End: P261
• Publication Date: 2014-09-02
• Subjects: Head -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Neck -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Otolaryngology -- Periodicals; 617.51
• DOI: 10.1177/0194599814541629a392
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0194-5998

Abstract

Abstract : Objectives: Evaluate the tolerability and effectiveness of the Barbed Roman Blinds Technique (BRBT), a new non‐resective procedure in which the tenso‐structural modifications of the fibro‐muscular tissues of the soft palate and the lateral pharyngeal walls, created by means of barbed sutures (QUILL), reduce the collapsibility of the retro‐palatal space. Methods: A prospective study was carried out at the Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico University of Milan, Italy, from September 2012 to June 2103. Twelve snoring patients with mild obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS; AHI <20) underwent drug‐induced‐sleep‐endoscopy and contextual BRBT under general anesthesia. Patient satisfaction was measured with visual analog scale (VAS), snoring with linear‐analog‐scale (LAS) and snoring‐scale‐score (SSS), daytime sleepiness with Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Polysomno‐graphy was repeated 6 months postoperatively. Results: Eight males and 4 females, median age 47.5 years (range, 38‐61 months) had no significant postoperative morbidities or complications. The most common complaint was mild swallowing pain with spontaneous resolution within 5 to 7 days. After a median follow‐up of 10 months (range, 15‐8 months), a stable space‐structural remodeling of the velo‐uvulopharyngeal tissues was observed; improvement of snoring was confirmed by reduction in LAS and SSS; high VAS satisfaction values and reduction of ESS and AHI were recorded. Conclusions: BRBT represents an effective, nonresective, reversible, repeatable and well‐tolerated procedure to relieve snoring. Considering the observed reduction of AHI and ESS, the role of BRBT in moderate‐severe OSAS is currently under study.