American journal of otolaryngology | 2021
Barbed reposition pharyngoplasty (BRP) in obstructive sleep apnea treatment: State of the art.
Abstract
PURPOSE\nIn this paper, we perform a systematic review that discusses the state of the art and evolution on the barbed reposition pharyngoplasty (BRP) in the velo-pharyngeal surgery. Clinical evidence and published outcomes of this surgical technique are reported and discussed.\n\n\nMATERIALS AND METHODS\nWe performed a systematic review of the current literature through the analysis of the last 10\xa0years of literature on barbed palate surgery. Study design, number of patients enrolled, inclusion criteria, pre- and posttreatment outcomes (AHI, ODI), surgical success rate, follow-up time and complication has been collected and reported.\n\n\nRESULTS\n15 studies for a total of 1531 patients, out of which 1061 underwent barbed reposition pharyngoplasty. Five trials were uncontrolled prospective studies (215 patients, 14% of total), nine were retrospective studies (1266 patients, 82,6% of total), and one randomized prospective clinical trial (RCT) (50 patients, 3,32% of total). All analyzed studies reported good outcomes after BRP surgery. Average preoperative values of AHI and ODI reduced in all studies considered with a significative statistical difference between preoperative and postoperative values (p\xa0<\xa00.05 in all cases). The postoperative surgical success rate ranged between 65.4 and 93% of cases. There were no significant intra-operative or post-operative complications in all studies considered in this systematic review.\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS\nBarbed reposition pharyngoplasty has proven to be an easy to learn, quick, safe and effective new palatopharyngeal procedure, that can be used in a single level surgery or as a part of multilevel procedures.