Surgical therapy for adult obstructive sleep apnea

Despite advances in positive pressure therapy for obstructive steep apnea, compliance continues to be a problem for many patients. Steep apnea surgery is a viable option for patients who are intolerant of positive pressure therapy. This review will present the current state of art in steep apnea surgery, including airway evaluation with fiberoptic nasopharyngoscopy and lateral cephalometric radiograph, formulation of a surgical plan through a selection of procedures to address specific sites of obstruction, as well as discussion of published surgical outcomes. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.