Materials and methods
This prospective study was conducted from April 2016 until December 2019 on patientswith snoring± OSA due to post-surgical NPS of grade Ι and ΙΙ.
NPS was classified into; grade Ι: minimal scar tissue, no soft palate lengthening, just adherence between lateral aspects of the palate and posterior pharyngeal wall, grade ΙΙ: moderate scar tissue, soft palate lengthening, with a small opening in the soft palate (1-2 cm in diameter) and grade ΙΙΙ: excessive scarring with complete fusion of soft palate and tonsillar pillars with the posterior pharyngeal wall (atresia) or stenosis leaving a pinpoint hole less than 1cm in diameter3.
Patients with grade ΙΙΙ NPS, severe craniofacial anomalies affecting airway, limited mouth opening (inter-incisive distance <1.5cm), and/or unfit for general anaesthesiawere excluded.
This study was conducted according to the declaration of Helsinki on Biomedical Research Involving Human Subjects. An informative consent was signed by all patients. The [Blinded for review] University institutional review board approval was obtained.