Reasons for failure in surgical treatment of patients with rhonchopathy and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

Purpose. To study specific approaches for selecting patients with rhonchopathy and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome for surgical treatment and to study laser surgical techniques applied on the soft palate so as to identify basic reasons of postoperative complications, soft palate function disorders and relapses of the disease with an even more aggressive course than before the surgery.Material and methods. In 2011–2020, 523 patients with rhonchopathy and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, aged 23–78, were selected for surgical treatment. The authors discuss the obtained data after analyzing the effectiveness of used criteria for selecting patients for laser-assisted surgery on the soft palate, as well as after analyzing outcomes after laser sculptural uvulopalatoplasty performed in 309 patients. Reasons for insufficient effectiveness of surgery in some patients have been analyzed too.Results. After analyzing selection criteria, it has been found out that only 309 patients out of 523 (59.1 %) had no contraindications to laser sculptural uvulopalatoplasty, while 214 patients (40.9 %) had them. The discussed surgery was effective in 304 out of 309 operated patients (98.4 %) which has been confirmed with a complete and stable relief from night snoring and its complications for five or more years after the surgery. No effect was registered in 5 (1.6 %) patients because they absolutely ignored strict following the prescribed regimen, diet and other recommendations aimed to promote physiological healing of surgical wounds.Conclusion. The effectiveness of laser sculptural uvulopalatoplasty depends on a careful and adequate selection of patients for this surgery as well as on rational choice of laser light parameters; failures are due to inadequate selection of patients and their unwillingness to strictly follow recommendations in the postoperative period.