Obstructive sleep apnea surgery: patient perspective and polysomnographic results.
OBJECTIVE
The goal of this study was to assess the outcomes of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) surgery based on the patient perspective and polysomnographic data.


METHODS
Fifty-six patients with severe OSA completed the 2-phase reconstructive protocol. A minimum of 6 months after the phase II surgery and after the postoperative polysomnography, questionnaires with visual analog scales (VAS 0-10) were mailed to the patients to assess their perceptions of treatment results.


RESULTS
Forty-two (75%) questionnaires were returned. The mean patient age was 46.3 years. The mean respiratory disturbance index improved from 58.7 to 10.0. The mean lowest oxygen saturation improved from 76.3 to 87.3%. All 42 patients reported improved sleep (VAS 8.7). Although 10 patients reported changes in speech, the changes were insignificant, with 9 of the patients scoring 0 on the VAS (VAS 0.08 +/-0.3). Five patients reported changes in swallowing, and their VAS scores were 0.5, 0.9, 1.0, 2.7, and 6.9 (mean VAS 2.4+/-2.7). Forty patients (95%) were satisfied with their results and would undergo the reconstruction again.


CONCLUSIONS
Surgical airway reconstruction for severe OSA is a highly effective treatment option base on the objective as well as the subjective assessment.
Li
K K
KK
Stanford University Sleep Disorders and Research Center, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA.
Riley
R W
RW
Powell
N B
NB
Gervacio
L
L
Troell
R J
RJ
Guilleminault
C
C
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019186:Mandibular Advancement; D008875:Middle Aged; D017286:Polysomnography; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome