• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.1366-1381
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• 1997

Background : Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty(UPPP) has become the most common surgical treatment for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome(OSAS). However, the results of this therapeutic modality have been quite variable with successful results by several authors and poor results by others. Until recently, in Korea, there is only a few reports about the clinical efficacy of UPPP. A prospective study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness and complications of UPPP. Method : Twenty-six OSAS patients who had undergone UPPP with preoperative and postoperative polysomnographic studies were included in this study. Two definitions of surgical success were used. The responder was defined, using a conventional criteria, as a 50% or more reduction in apnea index(AI) or apneahypopnea index(AHI) after UPPP, or a postoperative AI of <10 or AHI of <20. The initial cure was defined, using our own criteria, as a postoperative AI of <5 or AHI of <10. Complications were categorized in two groups : early(disorders during the first 10 postoperative days) and late. Results : Eighteen patients(69.2%) were responders, and ten patients(38.5%) were considered as initial cure. On the other hand, in five patients (19.2%), postoperative polysomnographic data demonstrated deterioration compared with preoperative data. Reduction rate of AI or AHI following UPPP was not significantly related to the preoperative body mass index, AI or AHI. There was no significant change of sleep architecture before and after UPPP in responder and initial cure groups. Early complications such as pain, dyspnea, bleeding, nasal reflux, dysphagia or wound disruption were observed in all patients. Late complications such as nasal reflux, voice change, dysphagia, loss of taste, pharyngeal dryness or foreign body sensation were discovered in 22 patients (84.6%). However, all early and late complications were of minor importance. Conclusion : The response to UPPP was favorable in approximately 70% of OSAS patient. However, the initial Cure rate of UPPP was relatively low. We suggest that selection of more appropriate surgical candidates and adequate surgical protocol is necessary to obtain a more successful result with UPPP.

• Speech Sciences
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.23-37
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• 2001

The primary sound produced by the vibration of vocal folds reaches the velopharyngeal isthmus and is directed both nasally and orally. The proportions of the each component is determined by the anatomical and functional status of the soft palate. The oral sounds composed of oral vowels and consonants according to the status of vocal tract, tongue, palate and lips. The nasal sounds composed of nasal consonants and nasal vowels, and further modified according to the status of the nasal airway, so anatomical abnormalities in the nasal cavity will influence nasal sound. The measurement of nasal sounds of speech has relied on the subjective scoring by listeners. The nasal sounds are described with nasality and nasalization. Generally, nasality has been assessed perceptually in the effect of maxillofacial procedures for cleft palate, sleep apnea, snoring and nasal disorders. The nasalization is considered as an acoustic phenomenon. Snoring and sleep apnea is a typical disorders due to abundant velopharynx. The sleep apnea has been known as a cessation of breathing for at least 10 seconds during sleep. Several medical and surgical methods for treating sleep apnea have been attempted. The uvulopalatopharyngoplasty(UPPP) involves removal of 1.0 to 3.0 cm of soft palate tissue with removal of redundant oropharyngeal mucosa and lateral tissue from the anterior and sometimes posterior faucial pillars. This procedure results in a shortened soft palate and a possible risk following this surgery may be velopharyngeal malfunctioning due to the shortened palate. Few researchers have systematically studied the effects of this surgery as it relates to speech production. Some changes in the voice quality such as resonance (nasality), articulation, and phonation have been reported. In view of the conflicting reports discussed, there remains some uncertainty about the speech status in patients following the snoring and sleep apnea surgery. The study was conducted in two phases: 1) acoustic analysis of oral and nasal sounds, and 2) evaluation of nasality.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.546-551
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• 2006

Purpose: The reconstruction of oropharyngeal defect after cancer surgery is very difficult because of their complicated structure and the functional importance to prevent velopharyngeal incompetence. In this article we investigated affecting factors of velopharyngeal function after reconstruction and a fundamental rule of reconstruction for saving their functions such as swallowing, speeching and breathing. Methods: We classified 18 patients into three group under Kimata's grouping. Type I defect(6 patients) was healed by primary closure or secondary intention. In Type II or III defect, two operation methods were used - the folded flap(8 patients) and modified Gehanno method(4 patients), which include a lateral-posterior pharyngeal rotation-advancement flap. We evaluated wound dehiscence between the flap and the soft palate, speech intelligibility using Hirose's method, regurgitation during oral feeding, and hypernasality. Results: Most of type I or II defects patients recovered satisfactory velopharyngeal function. But, in patients with type III defects we found wound dehiscence, worse speech function, and common velopharyngeal incompetence. Conclusion: The large defect size and presence of wound dehiscence are major factors of postoperative velopharyngeal function. We conclude that folded flap or modified Gehanno method is a good reconstructive operation method for broad contact between the flap and defect site, preventing wound problem.