Patients and features
OSAS, daytime sleepiness
CAVITY
From October 2016 to August 2019, 60 patients were evaluated at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University Clinic in Munich. The study examining the effectiveness of the Ronch®AP palatal device in treating OSAS was designed as a randomized and controlled trial. The functional principle of the Ronch®AP is based on the external stenting of the retropalatal space and follows a conservative treatment approach. It is based on the nocturnal usage of an individually adjusted plasticized wire construction with memory effect (Fig. Ronch®AP palatal device: relative size to a paper clip. Source: RonchoLine®Positioning of Ronch®AP palatal device. Source: RonchoLine®Only patients suffering from moderate to severe OSAS with an AHI ≥ 15, and who did not tolerate CPAP therapy, were included. Moderate OSAS was defined as AHI ≥ 15/h, severe OSAS as AHI ≥ 30/h. All patients went through a diligent ENT examination including rhinoscopy, pharyngoscopy and inspection of the oral cavity. If OSAS had previously not been formally diagnosed, but was assumed based on the results of clinical screening and analysis of risk factors, standardized cardiorespiratory polysomnography was conducted for verification. Polysomnographic testing was conducted at the sleep laboratory of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University Clinic in Munich in accordance with AASM guidelines [In addition to polysomnographic parameters daytime sleepiness was assessed using Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) [