Long-term results of surgical management of sleep disordered breathing: are our patients really benefiting?
The etiology of sleep disordered breathing (SDB), which includes upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS) and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), is collapse or obstruction of the upper airway during sleep. Surgical management was the first treatment modality available for SDB. Since the introduction of the tracheotomy to treat OSAS, there have been numerous procedures discovered to address the various sites of obstruction of the upper airway. This article reviews the long-term surgical results and may improve one's insight into the successes of surgical therapy for SDB.
Troell
R J
RJ
Stanford Sleep Disorders Clinic, Center of Excellence, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA.
Riley
R W
RW
Powell
N B
NB
Li
K
K
D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D000403:Airway Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D014140:Tracheotomy; D016896:Treatment Outcome