High Prevalence and Multiple Complications! Traditional Pharyngeal Surgery for Sleep Apnea Faces Challenges
Sleep apnea is a highly prevalent disease that not only affects sleep quality but also may lead to serious complications such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and hypertension. Its prevalence is high, affecting approximately 22% of men and 17% of women, occupying significant social healthcare resources. Led by Professor Hsueh-Yu Li, the Sleep Surgery Team at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (Linkou Branch) has developed comprehensive pharyngeal surgery over 20 years, effectively improving sleep apnea and applying surgery to areas such as childhood attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), adult pathological obesity, and elderly Alzheimer's disease, demonstrating the value of sleep surgery in preventive medicine and holistic healthcare.
Comprehensive Pharyngeal Surgery: Effective and Low Complication Rate
The main treatments for sleep apnea include positive airway pressure devices, dental appliances, and surgery. Positive airway pressure devices are the first-line treatment, but patient compliance is low, leading many patients to seek surgical treatment. Pharyngeal surgery is the most common surgical approach, but traditional methods involving tissue removal to widen the airway can lead to complications and low surgical success rates (approximately 41%).
The Sleep Surgery Team at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (Linkou Branch) proposed a treatment model of "tissue-specific functional reconstruction," integrating techniques such as comprehensive soft palate surgery, vaporization rod whole tongue ablation, and minimally invasive nasal septum and turbinate reshaping surgery. This approach not only reduces the complication rate to below 2% but also significantly increases the surgical success rate to 80%.
Recipient of the Symbol of National Quality Gold Award! Research Results Published in International Journals, Widely Cited, and Having Far-Reaching Impact
The Sleep Surgery Team at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (Linkou Branch) has been awarded the Gold Award at the 26th Symbol of National Quality for its outstanding clinical treatment and care achievements, showcasing Taiwan's top medical prowess. The team has published over 200 international journal articles in the field of sleep apnea, authored six chapters in sleep textbooks, and their papers have been cited over 4,000 times. Their research has had a significant impact on contemporary sleep apnea treatment models, making pharyngeal surgery a safe, effective, and accessible treatment method, with important clinical implications. The team actively engages in international exchanges, promoting Taiwan's experience globally and establishing a paradigm in the international sleep medicine community.
Professor Hsueh-Yu Li: Leading a New Trend in Sleep Surgery from Taiwan
Professor Hsueh-Yu Li stated that 20 years ago, Taiwan's sleep medicine was still in its infancy. The team persevered and innovated with limited resources, eventually developing comprehensive pharyngeal surgery, not only effectively improving sleep apnea but also pushing sleep surgery to new heights. Professor Lee emphasized that the success of the Sleep Surgery Team at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (Linkou Branch) demonstrates Taiwan's strength in medical research and innovation. In the future, the team will continue to work diligently, deepening their expertise in sleep medicine and bringing better medical services to patients worldwide.
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