Display Settings:

Format

Send to:

Choose Destination

    Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2006 Feb;134(2):187-96.

    Patient selection and efficacy of pillar implant technique for treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome.

    Friedman M, Vidyasagar R, Bliznikas D, Joseph NJ.

    Department of Otolaryngology and Bronchoesophagology, Rush-Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.

    OBJECTIVE: Pillar implant (PIT) is a simple, office-based procedure with minimal morbidity that was introduced in 2003 to treat snoring and mild/moderate obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). We studied the: (1) success rate using subjective symptoms and objective polysomnographic improvement; (2) success rate based on BMI, OSAHS severity and Friedman tongue position (FTP); and (3) its value as an adjunctive or revision procedure. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective review of 125 patients who underwent the PIT for snoring and OSAHS. Patients were grouped: Group I had PIT only (n = 29); Group II received adjunctive nasal procedures (n = 37), Group III received adjunctive oropharyngeal procedures (n = 55); and Group IV had failed previous UPPP (n = 4). RESULTS: Overall subjective and objective "cure" rates were 88.0% and 34.4%, respectively. Group IIb had the best objective cure rate of 46.7%. Neither AHI nor BMI correlated with outcome measures, whereas FTP did correlate. (FTP I and II had improved success vs FTP III and IV). Ten patients had partial extrusion of the PIT. These were removed and new PIT were carried out at a later date. CONCLUSIONS: Based on a short-term study, the Pillar implant is an effective treatment for snoring and OSAHS in selected patients and can be combined with adjunctive procedures to treat OSAHS.

    PMID: 16455363 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

    Supplemental Content

    Click here to read