Barbed anterior pharyngoplasty: an evolution of anterior palatoplasty.

We present a new surgical technique for the treatment of snoring and mild obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome. This is a modification of anterior palatoplasty, and its main features are the use of self-locking (barbed) threads and the possibility of stabilise the palatal suture by fixing it to anatomical bone and fibrous structures. The technique is described in detail and some preliminary results are presented.

Identification of obstructive sites and patterns in obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome by sleep endoscopy in 614 patients.

The aim of this study was to analyze and report sites and patterns of obstruction observed during sleep endoscopy in a large group of patients and suggest consequent therapeutic prescriptions. 614 consecutive patients who approached the Centre for Diagnosis and Treatment of Respiratory Sleep Disorders underwent sleep endoscopy. We used propofol to induce sleep, monitoring the value of bispectral index to evaluate the depth of sedation.

Videoendoscopic adenoidectomy with microdebrider.

After evaluating approaches proposed, over the last few years, by several Authors, to make the procedure of adenoidectomy safer and more accurate, we have developed a new procedure based on the combined use of a rigid 70 degrees endoscope with a video attachment and a microdebrider, both introduced through the oral cavity. This procedure offers several advantages: an improved field of vision, continuous suction of blood, and extreme precision in removing the adenoid tissue. Compared with current practices which employ the adenotome or curette, it is possible with our approach to remove adenoid tissue in the most important centres: the choanal and tubaric regions.