Effect of surgery on obstructive sleep apnea

Abstract

The statistical analysis of data obtained by monitoring pre- and post-operative conditions of patients treated for sleep apnea syndrome is reported. In the past 3 years, surgery was performed on 149 patients (55 children and 94 adults), who complained of snoring and symptoms related to the sleep apnea syndrome at Fujita Health University, The Second Hospital. Treatment for children was adeno-tonsillectomy. Treatment for adults was uvulo-palato-pharyngoplasty (UPPP), midline laser glossectomy (MLG) and/or nasal surgery. Apnea hypopnea index was defined as frequency of apnea hypopnea per hour. Pathological apnea (sleep apnea syndrome) was defined as apnea hypopnea (AHI) 10 in adults and AHI 5 in children. Marked improvement was defined as 75% reduction in AHI or a postoperative AHI below 10 in adults and 5 in children. Improvement was defined as 50-74% reduction of AHI. Slight improvement was defined as 25-49% reduction of AHI. No improvement was defined as less than 25% reduction of AHI. Of these 55 children, the AHI of 35 of them was above 5. Thirty cases (86%) showed marked improvement after treatment; 3 cases (8%) showed improvement; 1 case (3%) slight improvement and 1 case (3%) no improvement. Of these 94 adults, 40 cases (48%) showed marked improvement after treatment; 12 cases (14%) showed improvement; 14 cases (17%) slight improvement and 18 cases (21%) no improvement at all.