Surgery for obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSA) is not a substitute for continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) but is a salvage procedure for those who failed CPAP and other conservative therapies and therefore have no other options. The hypopharyngeal/tongue base procedures for the treatment of OSA are usually challenging to most sleep surgeons. In recent years, several procedures for OSA patients with hypopharyngeal obstructions have been developed to achieve higher response rates with decreased postoperative morbidities.
Keywords: Continuous positive airway pressure; Obstructive sleep apnea; Volumetric tongue reduction.
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