OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the variants of the anatomical structure of the soft palate in patients with snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome and their relationship with the severity of OSA syndrome.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study included patients (n=71) with snoring and sleep apnea. For the purpose of treatment, patients underwent reconstructive interventions on the soft palate. All patients underwent a comprehensive examination, including the collection of complaints and anamnesis, examination of the upper respiratory tract, night respiratory monitoring. There are 5 types of soft palate structure, depending on which all patients are divided into 5 groups. The 1st and 2nd groups mainly included patients with simple snoring and mild OSA syndrome, the 3rd and 5th groups were evenly distributed with all degrees of severity of the same pathology, and the 4th group consisted mainly of patients with severe OSA syndrome. The procedure of the operation varied in different groups. 1 month after surgical treatment, there was a decrease in the anpoe/hypopnea index compared with preoperative values in patients of the 1st and 2nd groups by 71.9% and 76.2%, respectively, in patients of the 3rd group by 51.4%, in patients of the 5th group by 65.3%, in patients of the 4th group by 39.6%.

CONCLUSIONS

The presented original classification of anatomical variants of the soft palate in patients with snoring and OSA syndrome makes it possible to determine the scope of intervention, predict the feasibility of surgery and can be recommended for practical use. Surgical treatment is indicated for types 1, 2, 3 and 5 of the structure of the soft palate. In patients with type 4, reconstructive operations on the soft palate do not lead to a satisfactory result and can only be used in combination with other methods of treatment.