Palatopharyngoplasty (Noun)
Meaning
Surgical resection of unnecessary palatal and oropharyngeal tissue to open the airway; intended to cure extreme cases of snoring (with or without sleep apnea).
Classification
Nouns denoting acts or actions.
Examples
- The otolaryngologist recommended a palatopharyngoplasty to alleviate the patient's severe sleep apnea and reduce the risk of complications.
- During the pre-operative consultation, the surgeon explained that the palatopharyngoplasty would involve removing a portion of the patient's uvula and trimming the soft palate.
- The patient was told to expect some temporary discomfort and changes to her speech following the palatopharyngoplasty procedure.
- Palatopharyngoplasty is typically considered a last resort for treating sleep apnea, as it is a more invasive surgery than other treatments like continuous positive airway pressure therapy.
- The sleep specialist referred the patient to an ear, nose, and throat surgeon to discuss the possibility of undergoing a palatopharyngoplasty to address the patient's obstructive sleep apnea.