[Surgical treatment of obstructive sleep apnea and snoring]

Abstract

Over the past three years, surgery was performed on 149 patients (55 children and 94 adults) who complained of snoring and symptoms related to sleep apnea syndrome, at Fujita Health University's Second Hospital. Treatment in children was adeno-tonsillectomy. Treatment in adults was uvulo-palato-pharyngoplasty, and midline laser grossectomy or nasal surgery, or both. The apnea hypopnea index was (AHI) was defined as the frequency of apneic and hypopneic events per hour. Pathological apnea (sleep apnea syndrome) was defined as an AHI of 10 in adults and an AHI of 5 in children. Marked improvement was defined as a 75% reduction in AHI or a postoperative AHI below 10 in adults and below 5 in children. Improvement was defined as a 50% to 74% reduction in AHI. Slight improvement was defined as a 29% to 49% reduction in AHI. No improvement was defined as a reduction in AHI of less than 25%. Of the 55 children, the AHI in 35 was above 5:30 (86%) improved markedly with the treatment; 3 (8%) improved; 1 (3%) improved slightly, and 1 (3%) did not improve. Of the 94 adults, the AHI in 84 was above 10:40 (48%) improved markedly with the treatment; 12 (14%) improved; 14 (17%) improved slightly and 18 (21%) did not improve.