Barbed Reposition Pharyngoplasty versus Expansion Sphincter Pharyngoplasty: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Objective: This study was to compare barbed reposition pharyngoplasty (BRP) and expansion sphincter pharyngoplasty (ESP) in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Methods: Relevant 907 articles were searched from various databases until August 2020, including PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Scopus, and reference lists. Results: Four studies with a total of 208 participants were included. The mean reduction of apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) in the BRP group was 74.03% and the mean reduction of AHI in the ESP group was 60.17%. The mean success rate in the BRP group and the ESP group was 84.96% and 79.87%, respectively. The mean difference (MD) of the change in AHI between groups was not significantly different (MD = −1.24 event/hr, 95% CI [−11.86, 9.36], P =.82). There was no significant difference in postoperative AHI, postoperative Epworth Sleepiness Scale, pain, hospital stay, time to oral diet, and the change in oxygen desaturation index in both groups whereas the analgesic requirement was lower in the BRP group. Operative time was lower in the BRP group (MD = 21.72 minutes, 95% CI [18.85, 24.60], P <.0001). Conclusion: The outcomes in both procedures are comparable in the improvement of OSA with palatal collapse. BRP is superior to ESP in term of surgical time. However, randomized clinical controlled trials with multicenter cooperation and long-term follow-up are essential to further demonstrate the efficacy of these procedures. Laryngoscope, 131:1420–1428, 2021. © 2020 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.