1 Introduction Sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBDs) span varying degrees of airway obstruction during sleep and contribute to significant epidemiologic burden, especially in developed countries. The first report of SRBD appeared…

1 Introduction Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is caused by obstacles to the free flow of air through the upper airway from the lips or nasal tip to the larynx and…

The aim of this chapter is not necessarily to provide the reader with information about the newest device, as it will be explored somewhere else in this book, but rather…

1 Introduction Surgical procedures designed to shorten or otherwise modify the palate may provide relief of upper airway collapse at the palatal level in patients with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). For…

1 Introduction Velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) is a significant speech disorder hypernasal resonance. This can result in difficulty with speech intelligibility and swallowing, which can have a major impact on a…

1 Introduction Severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is preferably treated by nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP). Unfortunately, 30% to 50% of patients refuse or cannot accept NCPAP for…

1 Introduction Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) comprises a wide spectrum of sleep-related breathing abnormalities; those related to increased upper airway resistance include snoring, upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS), and obstructive sleep…

1 Introduction The clinical significance of adenoid hypertrophy was not truly appreciated until the mid-19th century. This was due to the adenoids’ relatively inaccessible location given the technology available at…

1 Introduction Tonsillectomy remains one of the most common surgical procedures performed on children. In contrast to several decades ago when infectious indications were common, the reason most children undergo…

1 Introduction Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is the single most common surgical procedure performed for the correction of retropalatal obstruction causing or contributing to obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). Although its success…