Barbed Suspension of the Tongue Base for Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients

Inclusion Criteria: * BMI of patients less than 35 kg/m2. * Patients who have symptoms and signs of OSA. * Moderate to severe OSAHS confirmed by formal polysomnography (defined as an AHI ≥15). * Friedman tongue position III or IV. * Documented failure/refusal of attempts of conservative treatment measures (not limited to continuous positive airway pressure). * The presence of retrolingual collapse confirmed preoperatively with flexible fiberoptic endoscope during Muller maneuver. * Patients have macroglossia as defined by posterior airspace (PAS) of ≤10mm. Exclusion Criteria: * Failure to attend postoperative follow-up polysomnography within 6 months of surgery. * Previous surgery to the base of the tongue or other surgical treatment of OSAHS. * A history of malignancy or infection of the head and neck region, laryngeal trauma, or other previous oropharyngeal/laryngeal surgery. * Patients have retrognanthia sella-nasion-supra mentale (SNB) ≥76º. * Huge lymphoid tissue of the tongue and/or lingual tonsil.