Abstract
Tongue base obstruction is widely acknowledged to be the most difficult level of obstruction to treat in obstructive sleep apnea. A number of methods to correct surgically the tongue base collapse have been proposed. The tongue base suspension suture was introduced as a minimally invasive technique for tongue base stabilization. The technique uses a screw as a bone anchor inserted intraorally into the mandible with an attached Prolene number 1 suture (Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc, Cincinnati, OH) that is passed through the tongue. The suture not only provides a sling-like effect in the tongue base but also incorporates into the tongue musculature, imparting rigidity to the airway. This procedure can be performed alone or as part of a multilevel surgical algorithm in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 252-256 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Operative Techniques in Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery |
Volume | 17 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 2006 |
Keywords
- Minimally invasive
- Sleep apnea
- Tongue suspension
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Surgery
- Otorhinolaryngology