title: Obstructive sleep apnea after radial forearm free flap reconstruction of the oral tongue.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether radial forearm free flap reconstruction of the tongue after partial glossectomy is associated with obstructive sleep apnea.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen patients (5 men, 10 women) treated for tongue cancer in 2006-2010 by partial glossectomy and immediate radial forearm free flap reconstruction completed the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and underwent polysomnographic studies. Background, clinical, and pathologic data were collected from the medical files.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean ± SD age of the study group was 57 ± 19 years; body mass index, 24 ± 4; follow-up, 5.6 ± 2.8 years. Mean ± SD Epworth scale score was 8.18 ± 6.18 (normal, <8). Disordered sleep was documented in 11 patients, of whom 8 (53.3% of the cohort) had OSA (5 mild, 2 moderate, 1 severe). The OSA rate was significantly higher than reported in the general population (P = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients after partial glossectomy and radial forearm free flap reconstruction appear to be at high risk of obstructive sleep apnea. Testing for OSA should be considered in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petach Tikva, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gilat
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shpitzer
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Guttman
authors.forename: Ethan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Soudry
authors.forename: Raphael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Feinmesser
authors.forename: Gideon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bachar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005542:Forearm; D058752:Free Tissue Flaps / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005927:Glossectomy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017286:Polysomnography; D011379:Prognosis; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D014059:Tongue / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: Sleep apnea; forearm free flap; quality of life; tongue cancer