[Subjective outcome after multi-level surgery in sleep-disordered breathing].
BACKGROUND
Previous results showed the high effectiveness of our multi-level surgery concept based on the modified hyoid suspension for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This study was aimed at evaluating the discomforts and side-effects of this surgical concept.


METHODS
Between November 2001 and June 2004, 102 patients with OSA and/or with laryngeal stenosis, who were all treated with a hyoid suspension in combination with surgery at the base of tongue, the soft palate or the nose, were included in the study. A questionnaire on discomfort and snoring was given to the patients. They were asked to answer the questions at the earliest 1 month after surgery. A reduction in snoring to a level which was tolerated by the bed-partner was regarded as success.


RESULTS
Half of the patients needed analgesics until the 14th day after surgery, complained dysphagia until day 20 and had problems with their speech until day 30. However, 84% indicated that they would undergo surgery again; 94% reported a successful reduction in their snoring.


CONCLUSIONS
Nearly all of the patients tolerated the discomforts and side-effects of our multi-level surgical concept. In combination with a reduction in snoring in 94% of all cases, this surgical concept was considered favorably by the patients.
Baisch
A
A
Universitäts-HNO-Klinik Mannheim. alexander.baisch@hno.ma.uni-heidelberg.de
Hein
G
G
Gössler
U
U
Stuck
B A
BA
Maurer
J T
JT
Hörmann
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D012913:Snoring / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome