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Risks
By Mayo Clinic staffStudies have reported few complications associated with the Pillar procedure. The most commonly reported complication is a tip of an implant protruding through the soft palate tissue (partial extrusion). In that case, the implant can be either removed or replaced.
Other potential complications usually are temporary and resolve on their own. They include:
- Sore throat
- Metallic taste in the mouth
- Feeling of having a foreign body in the soft palate
- Swelling
As with any surgical procedure, infection is another possible risk. If you develop a fever after the procedure, contact your doctor.
How you prepare
You don't need to prepare for your Pillar procedure unless your doctor requests that you start taking antibiotics before your appointment.
- Walker RP, et al. Extended follow-up of palatal implants for OSA treatment. Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. 2007;137:822.
- Catalano P, et al. Additional palatal implants for refractory snoring. Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. 2007;137:105
- Nordgard S, et al. Soft palate implants for the treatment of mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea. Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. 2006;134:565.
- Nordgard S, et al. Palatal implants: A new method for the treatment of snoring. Acta Otolaryngol. 2004;124:970.
- Sleep apnea. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/SleepApnea/SleepApnea_All.html. Accessed Jan. 27, 2009.
