Effect of Nasal Surgery in Patients with Remained Snoring and Sleep Apnea after Obstructive Sleep Apnea Surgery / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is one type of sleep disorder breathing. During sleep, in respiration, nasal obstruction causes negative pressure, which in turn causes the pharyngeal airway to collapse during inspiration. We investigated how nasal surgery affects patients who have undergone OSA surgery but still suffer from the remaining symptoms of snoring and sleep disorder breathing. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: We reviewed 24 patients, who had undergone obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) surgery only to show no enhancement in snoring and qualities of sleep; they showed nasal septal deviation or inferior turbinate hypertrophy. Septal surgery or inferior turbinoplasty was performed by the same otolaryngologist. Over the period between preoperation and 1, 3, 6, 12 months after operation, we evaluated Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) and oxygen saturation by polysomnography, degree of snoring by Visual Analogue Sacle (VAS) score, satisfaction for quality of sleep by Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), minimal cross section area and volume of nasal cavity by acoustic rhinometry, respectively. RESULTS: After nasal surgery, the volume of nasal cavity and MCA increased. There were significant improvements of AHI, oxygen saturation, VAS and ESS score. CONCLUSION: As for OSA surgery, the evaluation of nasal cavity is an indispensible factor for improving the quality of sleep and snoring. When treating OSA patients who have nasal obstruction, nasal surgery including septoplasty and inferior turbinoplasty should be considered.