Potential Treatments for Epiglottic Collapse in Obstructive Sleep Apnea: How Modified Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy Help?

OBJECTIVE: In patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), epiglottic collapse (EC) constitutes a major factor in the failure of continuous positive airway pressure therapy and uvulopalatopharyngoplasty. This study explored treatments that can improve EC in patients with OSA through drug-induced sleep endoscopy with target-controlled infusion (TCI-DISE). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Tertiary center. METHODS: This study screened 352 OSA patients who underwent TCI-DISE between 2016 and 2022. Fifty-four patients with EC were included in the final analysis. EC severity was assessed multiple times through TCI-DISE with different interventions. RESULTS: The application of these interventions in patients with anteroposterior epiglottic collapse (apEC) led to a significant decrease in apEC severity from total to partial or no obstruction in 60.0% of patients by head rotation, in 53.6% by mouth closure, in 47.4% who received oral appliances (OA), and in 28.0% who received intermittent negative airway pressure (iNAP). With simultaneous head rotation, apEC severity decreased more significantly from total to partial or no obstruction in 77.8% of patients by mouth closure, in 70.3% who received OA, and in 68.0% who received iNAP. Lateral epiglottic collapse (latEC) severity decreased in 53.8% of patients after OA use and in 61.5% of patients with OA use and head rotation. CONCLUSION: This study identified head rotation with mouth closure as the most effective treatment for apEC through TCI-DISE. Patients with latEC had higher weight, apnea-hypopnea index, and body mass index compared with patients with apEC. OA use with head rotation appeared more effective in latEC through TCI-DISE.

Upper Airway Surgery or Weight Control? Modified Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the value of head rotation in the supine position and oral appliance (OA) use in drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE). STUDY DESIGN: Eighty-three sleep apnea adults undergoing target-controlled infusion-DISE (TCI-DISE) were recruited from a tertiary academic medical center. SETTING: During DISE, 4 positions were utilized: supine position (position 1), head rotation (position 2), mandibular advancement using an OA (position 3), and head rotation with an OA (position 4). METHODS: Polysomnography (PSG) data and anthropometric variables during DISE were analyzed. RESULTS: Eighty-three patients (65 men and 18 women; mean [standard deviation, SD], 48.5 [11.0] years) who underwent PSG and TCI-DISE were included. The mean (SD) apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was 35.5 (22.4) events/h. Twenty-three patients had persistent complete concentric velopharyngeal collapse in the supine position, even with concurrent head rotation and OA (position 4). Their mean (SD) AHI was 54.7 (24.6) events/h, significantly higher than that of the 60 patients without such collapse in position 4 (p < .001). Their mean (SD) body mass index (BMI) was 29.0 (4.1) kg/m2 , also significantly higher (p = .005). After adjustment for age, BMI, tonsil size, and tongue position, the degree of velum and tongue base obstruction was significantly associated with sleep apnea severity in positions 2, 3, and 4. CONCLUSION: We showed the feasibility, safety, and usefulness of using simple edge-to-edge, reusable OA in DISE. Patients who are not responsive to head rotation and OA during TCI-DISE may need upper airway surgery and/or weight control.

Mouth Puffing Phenomenon and Upper Airway Features May Be Used to Predict the Severity of Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate (1) the role of mouth puffing phenomenon and upper airway features in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and (2) whether mouth-taping during sleep alleviated the severity of OSA. Participants and Methods: Seventy-one participants underwent a two-night home sleep test (the first day sleeping normally; the second day sleeping with their mouths being taped); their oximetry desaturation index (ODI) and mouth puffing signals (non-mouth puffing, complete mouth puffing, intermittent mouth puffing (IMP), and side mouth puffing) were detected by a validated fingertip pulse oximeter and a mouth puffing detector. The participants were grouped into the ODI-improved group and the ODI-not-improved group according to their sleeping test results. The radiograph was taken by cone-beam computed tomography and cephalometries. Upper airway features including airways, soft tissues, and oral cavity variables were measured. Results: Participants with severe OSA showed a higher IMP percentage compared with those with normal, mild, and moderate OSA (severe: 33.78%, moderate: 22.38%, mild: 14.55%, normal: 0.31%, p < 0.001). In all participants, the ODI and the percentage of SpO2 under 90 (T90) were positively related to body mass index (BMI) (r = 0.310 and 0.333, respectively), while ODI and T90 were negatively correlated with the minimum width of the airway (r = -0.473 and -0.474, respectively); all mentioned relationships were significant (p < 0.05). Conclusion: IMP proportions were found to be higher in the half of participants whose ODI did not improve after mouth-taping and in those with severe OSA. Moreover, OSA patients with higher ODI, higher T90, and higher proportions of IMP were more likely to have a narrower upper airway.

Comparison of Hospital-Based and Home-Based Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Severity Measurements with a Single-Lead Electrocardiogram Patch.

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a global health concern, and polysomnography (PSG) is the gold standard for assessing OSA severity. However, the sleep parameters of home-based and in-laboratory PSG vary because of environmental factors, and the magnitude of these discrepancies remains unclear. We enrolled 125 Taiwanese patients who underwent PSG while wearing a single-lead electrocardiogram patch (RootiRx). After the PSG, all participants were instructed to continue wearing the RootiRx over three subsequent nights. Scores on OSA indices-namely, the apnoea-hypopnea index, chest effort index (CEI), cyclic variation of heart rate index (CVHRI), and combined CVHRI and CEI (Rx index), were determined. The patients were divided into three groups based on PSG-determined OSA severity. The variables (various severity groups and environmental measurements) were subjected to mean comparisons, and their correlations were examined by Pearson's correlation coefficient. The hospital-based CVHRI, CEI, and Rx index differed significantly among the severity groups. All three groups exhibited a significantly lower percentage of supine sleep time in the home-based assessment, compared with the hospital-based assessment. The percentage of supine sleep time (∆Supine%) exhibited a significant but weak to moderate positive correlation with each of the OSA indices. A significant but weak-to-moderate correlation between the ∆Supine% and ∆Rx index was still observed among the patients with high sleep efficiency (≥80%), who could reduce the effect of short sleep duration, leading to underestimation of the patients' OSA severity. The high supine percentage of sleep may cause OSA indices' overestimation in the hospital-based examination. Sleep recording at home with patch-type wearable devices may aid in accurate OSA diagnosis.

Novel Intraoral Negative Airway Pressure in Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy with Target-Controlled Infusion.

BACKGROUND: In intermittent negative airway pressure (iNAP) therapy, soft tissues are reshaped into a forward-resting position, thus reducing airway obstruction during sleep. This study investigated the effect of iNAP therapy that was administered during drug-induced sleep endoscopy with target-controlled infusion (TCI-DISE) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) intolerant of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. METHODS: This prospective case series study included 92 patients with polysomnography (PSG)-confirmed OSA who underwent TCI-DISE with iNAP from January 2018 to February 2020 at a tertiary referral hospital. Upper airway obstruction was evaluated and scored using the velum, oropharynx, tongue base, and epiglottis (VOTE) classification. Obstruction severity was assessed multiple times with the patient in the supine position with or without lateral rotation of the head and the application of iNAP therapy, respectively. RESULTS: After the application of iNAP therapy in the supine position, obstruction severity decreased significantly: from complete or partial obstruction to partial or no obstruction in 37, 12, and 36 patients (40.2%, 13%, and 39%, respectively) with velar obstruction, oropharyngeal, and tongue base obstruction, respectively. After simultaneously applying iNAP therapy with head rotation, obstruction severity decreased in 47, 43, and 19 patients (51%, 47%, and 21%, respectively) with velar, tongue base, and epiglottic obstruction, respectively. CONCLUSION: In TCI-DISE, we found that iNAP therapy relieved velar, oropharyngeal, and tongue base obstruction in the supine position in some patients. Moreover, iNAP therapy can be combined with positional therapy to alleviate velar, tongue base, and epiglottic obstruction in some patients. TCI-DISE can also be used to screen the possible responders for iNAP therapy because it is less time consuming than PSG.

Post-Operative Sleep Endoscopy with Target-Controlled Infusion After Palatopharyngoplasty for Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Anatomical and Polysomnographic Outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: The findings of drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) are not always correlated with the outcome of upper airway surgery for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and whether multilevel surgery is truly required in treating multilevel obstruction identified in preoperative DISE remains an issue. We attempted to compare DISE findings before and after palatopharyngoplasty in patients with OSA because changes in DISE may be beneficial to better understand polysomnographic and anatomical outcomes. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study for 34 patients with moderate to severe OSA who underwent palatopharyngoplasty at a tertiary care center from 2016 to 2018. We recorded the patients' demographic characteristics, procedures, and surgical outcomes and compared the preoperative and postoperative DISE staging patterns. RESULTS: The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) values of 34 adults improved significantly after surgery (40.6 ± 23.3 versus 25.6 ± 20.6, P < 0.001). The majority of patients, 26/34, had preoperative complete concentric collapse at the velum, and for most (20/26, 77%) there was a change of the collapse pattern into anteroposterior collapse postoperatively. Patients with postoperative velar collapse had higher follow-up AHI values than those who without (27.8 ± 21.9 versus 15.2 ± 7.7, P = 0.023). Patients with preoperative complete tongue base collapse had higher follow-up AHI values than did those with no or partial collapse (40.6 ± 21.0 versus 21.0 ± 18.6, P = 0.017). Patients with postoperative complete tongue base collapse also had higher follow-up AHI values than the others (42.7 ± 22.1 versus 18.5 ± 15.4, P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Palatopharyngoplasty could change the collapse pattern at the velum in most patients. Preoperative and postoperative complete tongue base collapse and postoperative velar collapse identified in TCI-DISE were associated with relatively poor outcomes.

Effect of Modified Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty without Tonsillectomy on Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Polysomnographic Outcome and Correlation with Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy.

OBJECTIVE: Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is a common procedure for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and is usually initiated with the resection of palatine tonsils. Because tonsillectomy potentially contributes to complications, minimally invasive upper airway surgeries have been proposed for OSA therapy. Whether tonsillectomy is always essential for UPPP remains unclear, particularly for patients with small tonsils. The purpose of this study was to present the effect of modified UPPP without tonsillectomy (UPsT) on patients with OSA and attempt to select the candidates for this procedure. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of patients with OSA, with tonsil size of grade 0-2, and with only retropalatal obstruction in drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE). The patients underwent UPsT at a tertiary center from November 2017 to December 2019. The sleep study was performed before and at least 3 months after surgery. The demographics, surgical outcomes, and staging patterns of preoperative DISE were recorded. The correlation between surgical outcome and DISE was also established. RESULTS: A total of 22 adults with an average age of 46.5 years [interquartile range: 40 to 60 years] completed the follow-up study. Their apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and Epworth sleepiness scale values improved significantly after surgery. Of the 17 patients with partial collapse and complete anteroposterior collapse (APC) at the velum, 16 presented good responses to UPsT. However, among the five patients with complete concentric collapse (CCC), only two (2/5, 40%) satisfied the criteria for surgical success. Furthermore, their follow-up AHI values were significantly higher than those of patients without CCC in DISE. CONCLUSION: UPsT was demonstrated to be an effective therapy for patients with OSA who had small tonsils and retropalatal obstruction in DISE. CCC in sleep endoscopy indicates a poorer surgical outcome than does complete APC and partial collapse at the velum.

Effect of Sleep Surgery on C-Reactive Protein Levels in Adults With Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To evaluate associations between sleep surgery and CRP (C-reactive protein) levels in adults with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). STUDY DESIGN: Meta-analysis. METHODS: Two authors independently searched PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane review databases until July 2019. The keywords used were sleep apnea, OSA, sleep apnea syndromes, surgery, C-reactive protein (CRP), and inflammatory markers. The effects of sleep surgery on CRP levels were examined using a random-effects model. RESULTS: Nine studies with 277 patients were analyzed (mean age: 46.5 years; 92% men; mean sample size: 30.8 patients). The mean change in the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) after surgery was significantly reduced by -21.1 (95% confidence interval [CI], -28.4 to -13.7) events/hr. Overall, sleep surgery resulted in a significant reduction of CRP levels in patients with OSA (standardized mean difference [SMD] = -0.39, 95% CI, -0.67 to -0.11). Patients with postoperative AHI reduction >20 events/hr achieved a greater reduction in CRP than those with AHI reduction <20 events/hr (SMD: -0.72 vs. -0.14, P for heterogeneity = .007). According to subgroup analysis, differences in the CRP levels after surgery were nonsignificant in the different countries (i.e., United States vs. other countries), CRP types (i.e., CRP vs. high-sensitivity CRP), surgical procedures (i.e., pharyngeal surgery vs. other surgical procedures), and follow-up period (i.e., <6 vs. >6 months). CONCLUSIONS: Sleep surgery for OSA resulted in a significant reduction of CRP levels in adults. The beneficial effect of surgery on CRP levels is greater in patients with large improvement in OSA (i.e., AHI reduction >20 events/hr) after sleep surgery. Laryngoscope, 131:1180-1187, 2021.

Sleep medicine in otolaryngology units: an international survey.

PURPOSE: No study to date has described the overall landscape of sleep disorders management and training in otolaryngology departments of different countries. The aim of our study was to investigate and compare settings, diagnostic and therapeutic approaches and training programmes. METHODS: An international online survey was developed with the collaboration of the YO-IFOS (Young Otolaryngologists-International Federation of Otorhinolaryngological Societies) to assess the current practice of otolaryngologists in the management of sleep disorders. The survey also included a session dedicated to training. RESULTS: A total of 126 otolaryngologists completed the survey. The larger part of responses was collected from Central/South America and Europe. The majority of responders from South/Central America (97%) declared to be certified as sleep specialist while 49% of Europeans stated the opposite. Of responders 83% perform a drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) before planning a possible surgical intervention. Soft palate and base of tongue interventions were the most common procedure, respectively performed in 94% and 79% of the cases. Residents were allowed to perform soft palate surgery in 77% of the cases. Upper airway stimulation (26% vs 10%), trans-oral robotic surgery (36% vs 11%) and radiofrequency of the base of the tongue (58% vs 25%) were preferred more frequently by European responders. The highest caseloads of soft palate surgery and bi-maxillary advancement were registered in the academic institutions. CONCLUSION: Significant concordance and few interesting divergences in diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders were observed between nationalities and types of institution. Economic resources might have played a significant role in the therapeutic choice. Trainees' lack of exposure to certain interventions and to a sufficient caseload appeared to be the main burden to overcome.

Comparison of Findings between Clinical Examinations and Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome.

The Velum, Oropharynx, Tongue base and Epiglottis (VOTE) classification on drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) is used widely for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome, though research into comparative physical examinations with VOTE on DISE is still limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the findings of physical examinations and DISE in patients with OSA. Fifty-five patients with OSA were enrolled in this retrospective study. All of the patients received clinical explorations including a Brodsky classification, a modified Mallampati score (MMS), a modified Friedman's staging system, and a Muller's test. Drug-induced sleep endoscopy was further evaluated in the operating room. There were significant relationships between Brodsky classification, modified Friedman's staging system, Muller's test and oropharynx collapse during DISE (p < 0.05). Brodsky classification, MMS, modified Friedman's staging system and retropalatal lateral-to-lateral (L-L) collapse of Muller's test were significantly correlated with VOTE count (p < 0.05). The concordance between VOTE under DISE and Brodsky classification or modified Friedman's staging system was moderate. In contrast, the concordance between VOTE under DISE and MMS or Muller's test was slight. The study revealed that Brodsky classification and Friedman staging had a significant relationship with DISE on the velum and oropharynx, but the level of tongue base is uncertain between DISE and MMS. Correlation of awake evaluation of tongue base is still not correlated to the DISE findings. Pre-treatment evaluation of DISE is still warranted.

Screening of obstructive sleep apnea in patients who snore using a patch-type device with electrocardiogram and 3-axis accelerometer.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: People with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) remain undiagnosed because of the lack of easy and comfortable screening tools. Through this study, we aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy of chest wall motion and cyclic variation of heart rate (CVHR) in detecting OSA by using a single-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) patch with a 3-axis accelerometer. METHODS: In total, 119 patients who snore simultaneously underwent polysomnography with a single-lead ECG patch. Signals of chest wall motion and CVHR from the single-lead ECG patch were collected. The chest effort index (CEI) was calculated using the chest wall motion recorded by a 3-axis accelerometer in the device. The ability of CEI and CVHR indices in diagnosing moderate-to-severe OSA (apnea-hypopnea index ≥ 15) was compared using the area under the curve (AUC) by using the DeLong test. RESULTS: CVHR detected moderate-to-severe OSA with 52.9% sensitivity and 94.1% specificity (AUC: 0.76, 95% confidence interval: 0.67-0.84, optimal cutoff: 21.2 events/h). By contrast, CEI identified moderate-to-severe OSA with 80% sensitivity and 79.4% specificity (AUC: 0.87, 95% confidence interval: 0.80-0.94, optimal cutoff: 7.1 events/h). CEI significantly outperformed CVHR regarding the discrimination ability for moderate-to-severe OSA (ΔAUC: 0.11, 95% confidence interval: 0.009-0.21, P = .032). For determining severe OSA, the performance of discrimination ability was greater (AUC = 0.90, 95% confidence interval: 0.85-0.95) when combining these two signals. CONCLUSIONS: Both CEI and CVHR recorded from a patch-type device with ECG and a 3-axis accelerometer can be used to detect moderate-to-severe OSA. Thus, incorporation of CEI is helpful in the detection of sleep apnea by using a single-lead ECG with a 3-axis accelerometer.

Association of cumulative surgeon volume and risk of complications in adult uvulopalatopharyngoplasty: a population-based study in Taiwan.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Patients with obstructive sleep apnea undergoing upper airway surgery are known to have an increased perioperative risk, however, the effect of surgeon volume on this risk is largely unknown. We compared the 30-day readmission, bleeding, and mortality rates in adult patients with obstructive sleep apnea undergoing uvulopalatopharyngoplasty by cumulative surgeon volume. The objective of this study is to compare the risks of complications among different cumulative surgeon volume groups in adult patients undergoing uvulopalatopharyngoplasty and multilevel surgery. METHODS: In this retrospective study, data of all adult inpatients (aged older than 18 years) who underwent uvulopalatopharyngoplasty in Taiwan between 2000 and 2012 were identified from the National Health Insurance Research Database and then analyzed. Using mixed-effect logistic regression, we compared the risks of major complications in patients undergoing uvulopalatopharyngoplasty alone, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty with nasal surgery, and uvulopalatopharyngoplasty with tongue or hypopharyngeal surgery according to groups of cumulative surgeon volume (divided into four quartiles). RESULTS: A total of 36,483 adults were identified (mean age, 38.6 years; 73.7% men). When quartile 4 was used as reference, very low surgeon volume (quartile 1) was associated with higher risks of readmission within 30 days (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.35, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.17-1.57, P < .001), in-hospital death (aOR, 6.14, 95% CI 1.33-28.27, P = .020), and 30-day mortality (aOR, 4.90, 95% CI 1.83-13.09, P = .002). CONCLUSIONS: Higher complication rates in uvulopalatopharyngoplasty appear to be associated with very low cumulative surgeon volume.

Incidence of Multilevel Surgical Procedures and Readmissions in Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty in Taiwan.

IMPORTANCE: Multilevel surgical procedures with uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) appear to be associated with more complications than UPPP alone, but general and bleeding-related hospital readmissions have not been specifically investigated to date. OBJECTIVE: To compare the risk of 30-day general and bleeding-related readmissions in adult patients who underwent UPPP alone and those who received a multilevel surgical procedure. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This cross-sectional study retrospectively analyzed all cases of UPPP among adults (aged >20 years) in Taiwan from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2012. Claims data in the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database were used. Participants were patients who underwent inpatient UPPP (n = 35 029), and their basic information was acquired from the database. Data analyses were conducted from June 22, 2018, to August 22, 2018. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The risks of major complications in patients who underwent UPPP alone, UPPP with nasal operation, and UPPP with tongue or hypopharyngeal operation were compared using a generalized linear mixed model. RESULTS: In total, 35 029 adults were identified (mean [SD] age of 39.2 [12.2] years, and 25 923 men [74.0%]). The proportion of UPPP concurrent with nasal operation increased from 2000 to 2012 (19.9% to 42.9%), as did that of UPPP with concurrent tongue or hypopharyngeal operation (2.7% to 5.2%). The rate of readmission for any reason after UPPP with nasal operation was higher than that for UPPP alone (4.7% vs 3.7%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.22; 95% CI, 1.09-1.37). The rate of readmission for any reason and readmission for bleeding for UPPP with tongue or hypopharyngeal operation (aOR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.34-2.11) was also higher than that for UPPP alone (aOR, 2.34; 95% CI, 1.72-3.17). However, a multilevel surgical procedure was not associated with an increased risk of bleeding-related reoperation, regardless of the concurrent procedure. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The incidence of multilevel UPPP in Taiwan increased from 2000 to 2012, and these surgeries appeared to be associated with a higher risk of complications; results of this study suggest that these findings should be considered during surgical decision-making.

Readmission after Adult Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty: A Population-Based Inpatient Cohort Study in Taiwan.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate readmissions among adult inpatients who underwent uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) in Taiwan. DESIGN: Population-based survey. SETTING: Retrospective study with the National Health Insurance Database. METHODS: All cases of inpatient adult UPPP (age >20 years) from 1997 to 2012 were identified through International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification. Factors associated with readmission within 30 days after surgery were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 38,839 adults with UPPP were identified (mean age, 39.3 years; men, 73.7%). The incidence of UPPP was 14.6 per 100 000 adults, which increased from 1997 to 2012 (6.7 to 16.7 per 100,000, Ptrend < .001). The rates of readmission for any reason, readmission for bleeding, reoperation for bleeding, and 30-day mortality were 4.2%, 1.7%, 1.0%, and 0.14%, respectively. Young age increased the risk of reoperation for bleeding, and old age increased the risk of readmission for any reason and mortality. Men had an increased risk of readmission and reoperation. Hypertension was associated with an increased risk of readmission for any reason (odds ratio [OR], 1.29; 95% CI, 1.10-1.51), bleeding-related readmission (OR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.52-2.36), and reoperation (OR, 2.47; 95% CI, 1.84-3.30). Concurrent hypopharyngeal surgery was associated with an increased risk of readmission for any reason (OR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.07-1.66) and bleeding-related readmission (OR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.25-2.27). Finally, the use of steroids was associated with an increased risk of bleeding-related readmission and reoperation. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of adult UPPP increased from 1997 to 2012 in Taiwan. Age, sex, comorbidity, concurrent hypopharyngeal surgery, and drug administration were associated with readmission after inpatient UPPP.

Does Sleep Endoscopy Staging Pattern Correlate With Outcome of Advanced Palatopharyngoplasty for Moderate to Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Although drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) is an accepted method to localize upper airway obstruction, it is not known whether all sites identified by DISE must be treated to achieve sufficient apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) improvement. The aim of this study was to compare outcomes for unilevel (upper) versus multilevel DISE collapse patterns in a patient cohort that only underwent modern palatopharyngoplasty. Our hypothesis was that not all tongue base-level obstructions on DISE must be treated. METHODS: Thirty-eight patients with mean AHI of 45 events/h underwent DISE followed by palatopharyngoplasty. Outcome was measured by polysomnography or home sleep apnea testing. RESULTS: Eleven patients (29%) had multilevel, complete tongue base obstruction and nineteen (50%) had no obstruction. These two groups were similar in age, body mass index, and AHI; the complete group had smaller tonsils and higher tongue position. The postoperative success rate and AHI in the group without tongue base obstruction were not significantly different from those of the complete group (68%; 17.4 ± 11.0 versus 73%; 15.4 ± 20.5, P > .99). Seventeen patients (45%) had circumferential collapse of velum. The postoperative AHI was higher for patients with circumferential collapse (23.6 ± 15.8 from 55.3 ± 22.1 versus 10.5 ± 9.94 from 36.4 ± 16.7, P < .0001), but both groups had clinically and statistically significant AHI reductions. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with multilevel obstruction on DISE, treated with palatopharyngoplasty alone, had similar AHI outcome as those with unilevel obstruction. Multilevel surgery may not be needed in some patients with a multilevel obstruction pattern. Circumferential collapse of velum, however, was associated with a higher residual AHI.

The importance of drug-induced sedation endoscopy (D.I.S.E.) techniques in surgical decision making: conventional versus target controlled infusion techniques-a prospective randomized controlled study and a retrospective surgical outcomes analysis.

Drug-Induced Sedation Endoscopy (DISE) consists of the direct observation of the upper airways during sedative-induced sleep, allowing the identification of the sites of pharyngeal collapse, which is the main pathological event in Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). The Authors have compared Target Controlled Infusion (TCI) sedation endoscopy (TCI-DISE) technique to conventional DISE (CDISE), performed by a manual bolus injection of sedative agent, to recreate accurately and safely snoring and apnea patterns comparable to natural sleep. The authors conducted a prospective, randomized, long-term study and a retrospective analysis of surgical outcomes. The apnea-event observation and its correlation with pharyngeal collapse patterns is the primary endpoint; secondary endpoints are defined as stability and safety of sedation plan of DISE-TCI technique. From January 2009 to January 2011, OSA patients were included in the study and randomly allocated into two groups: the bolus injection conventional DISE group and the TCI-DISE group. Third endpoint is to compare the surgical outcomes enrolling OSA patients from January 2009 to June 2015. We recorded the complete apnea-event at oropharynx and hypopharynx levels in 15/50 pts in conventional DISE group (30%) and in 99/123 pts in TCI-DISE group (81%) (p < 0.0001). Four pts needed oxygen in conventional DISE group because a severe desaturation occurred during the first bolus of propofol (1 mg/kg) (p = 0.4872 ns). We recorded instability of the sedation plan in 13 patients of conventional DISE group (65%) and 1 patient of the TCI-DISE group (5%) (p = 0.0001). In 37 TCI-DISE group surgical patients we reported a significant reduction of postoperative AHI (from 42.7 ± 20.2 to 11.4 ± 10.3) in comparison with postoperative AHI in 15 C-DISE group surgical patients (from 41.3 ± 23.4 to 20.4 ± 15.5) (p = 0.05). Our results suggest the DISE-TCI technique as first choice in performing sleep-endoscopy because of its increased accuracy, stability and safety. However, it is mandatory an accurate assessment of PSG/PM, which allows us to differentiate OSA patients in whom UA anatomical abnormalities are predominant in comparison with not-anatomical pathophysiologic factors, achieving good surgical patient's selection and outcomes as a consequence.

Trans-oral robotic surgery (TORS) for the treatment of lingual tonsillitis. When conventional therapies fail.

BACKGROUND: Lingual tonsillitis is an underestimated but serious health problem. This paper describes the feasibility and efficacy of the trans-oral robotic surgical approach in cases of lingual tonsillitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From February 2012 to April 2014, 10 patients affected by lingual tonsillitis resistant to medical treatments underwent transoral robotic lingual tonsillectomy at the authors' Institution. RESULTS: The surgical robotic procedure was completed in all cases and there was no need to change the operative approach once started. The mean set-up time was 13.2 ± 5.2 min, while mean operating time was 28 ± 12 min. The mean amount of tissue removed was 16.5 ± 13 cm3 . No major intra-operative and post-operative complications were registered. After 15.2 ± 12 months of follow-up, no relapses were reported and patients did not complain of any further symptoms. CONCLUSION: Lingual tonsillitis seems to be safely and effectively managed by trans-oral robotic surgery. The data are encouraging and worthy of further evaluation. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Brainstem lesion in benign paroxysmal vertigo children: Evaluated by a combined ocular and cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential test.

OBJECTIVE: This study utilized a combined ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (oVEMP) and cervical VEMP (cVEMP) test in children with benign paroxysmal vertigo (BPV) to investigate whether the upper or lower brainstem is more frequently affected in BPV children. METHODS: Fifteen BPV children aged 4-14 years, and 15 age- and sex-matched healthy children were enrolled. All subjects underwent pure tone audiometry, stabilometry, and a combined oVEMP and cVEMP test using acoustic stimulation. RESULTS: All BPV patients displayed normal hearing and clear oVEMPs. However, 11 (73%) of 15 BPV patients had delayed cVEMPs, showing significant difference when compared with 100% normal cVEMPs in healthy children. The sway path and sway area in stabilometry were significantly different between BPV and healthy children, regardless of whether their eyes were open or closed. However, neither the sway path nor sway area correlated significantly with cVEMP results. CONCLUSION: Normal oVEMPs in BPV children indicate an intact vestibulo-ocular reflex pathway, which travels through the upper brainstem. In contrast, delayed cVEMPs in BPV children reflect a retrolabyrinthine lesion along the sacculo-collic reflex pathway, which descends via the lower brainstem. Hence, the lower brainstem is more frequently affected than the upper brainstem in children with BPV.