[The surgical treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome]

Abstract

Studies concerning the anatomical abnormalities of upper airways in patients affected by Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) allowed the corrective surgical treatments in this syndrome. To provide an improvement or a definitive recovery of OSAS, various surgical treatments, i.e. functional nasal surgery, palatal surgery [Partial resection of palate (RPP), Uvulopalatopharingoplasty (UPPP), Palatopharingoplasty (PPP), modified Palatopharingoplasty (modified PPP)], mandibular and base tongue surgery, have been performed in order to obtain an enlargement of upper airways. It has been reported that in RPP, UPPP, PPP and modified PPP partial or total uvula and soft palate resection is conduct; in our research we performed modified PPP. 44 OSAS patients, severe or moderately severe form (polisomnographic diagnosis), underwent surgical treatment: 5 patients underwent functional nasal surgery; 9 patients underwent modified PPP; 29 patients underwent nasal and palatal surgery; only 1 patient underwent base tongue surgery. 32 patients underwent polisomnographic records after surgery (two months later) and we evaluated Apnea Index (I.A.) and a SaO2 low (nadir) with statistic tests. The results have been positive. Therefore, we have now 7 normal, 2 mild form, 7 moderate form, 3 moderately severe form and 13 severe form OSAS patients. If, on the one hand, all these surgical treatments can be considered a good way of therapy, on the other, only tracheostomy represents today the unfailing surgical therapy.