[Does Velopharyngoplasty As a Speech-improving Measure in Cleft Palates Lead to Obstructive Sleep Apnea?]

Velopharyngoplasty performed to correct velopharyngeal insufficiency in cleft palate patients may cause obstructive sleep apnea in individual cases. The aim of this study was to answer the question, following velopharyngoplasty to what extent and with what frequency can signs of breathing disturbances during sleep be observed. Following the recommendations of the German Sleep Society, a step-by-step procedure was adopted. In 25 patients, in some cases before the operation and in all cases following surgery, nightly oxygen saturation, heart rate, and snoring were recorded. When observable pathological signs surfaced, a cardiorespiratory polygraph was taken. Up to this point only quickly passing signs of sleep related breathing disturbances have been observed. In not a single case could lasting sleep related breathing disturbances as a result of velopharyngoplasty be proven. Nevertheless, the call for pulse oximetric monitoring in the immediate postoperative phase together with corresponding pre-operative observation is legitimate. Even if at this point the danger of sleep related breathing disturbances following velopharyngoplasty appears to be minimal, these preliminary results should be polysomnographically studied within the framework of a much larger test study in order to reach still more reliable conclusions and in order to intercede if necessary with counter measures in the rare individual case of breathing disturbance during sleep following velopharyngoplasty.