Effect of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty on work of breathing during wakefulness in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the effects of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) on the work of breathing (WOB) in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).


METHODS
Fifteen healthy subjects and 30 subjects with OSAS who desired UPPP were prospectively enrolled. All underwent measurement of WOB while awake as well as in a sleep study. These studies were repeated 3 months after UPPP in the patients with OSAS.


RESULTS
In OSAS before UPPP, the WOB while supine was increased above that of normal subjects. After UPPP, the WOB while supine remained elevated in those whose OSAS did not respond to surgery, and it returned to normal levels in patients whose OSAS improved after UPPP.


CONCLUSIONS
Abnormal WOB in patients with OSAS returns to normal if UPPP results in amelioration of OSAS.
Lin
Ching-Chi
CC
Chest Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Lee
Kuo-Sheng
KS
Wang
Ying-Piao
YP
Hsieh
Wen-Yeh
WY
Shen
Sheng-Yeh
SY
Chiu
Chung-Hsin
CH
Liaw
Shwu-Fang
SF
D000328:Adult; D004585:Electrooculography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D010614:Pharynx / Q000601:surgery*; D010991:Plethysmography; D017286:Polysomnography; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014609:Uvula / Q000601:surgery*; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000502:physiology*; D014939:Work of Breathing / Q000502:physiology*