OSA Upper Airways Surgery: A Targeted Approach.

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) is a multi-factorial disorder, with quite complex endotypes, consisting of anatomical and non-anatomical pathophysiological factors. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is recognized as the first-line standard treatment for OSA, whereas upper airway (UA) surgery is often recommended for treating OSA patients who have refused or cannot tolerate CPAP. The main results achievable by the surgery are UA expansion, and/or stabilization, and/or removal of the obstructive tissue to different UA levels. The site and pattern of UA collapse identification is of upmost importance in selecting the customized surgical procedure to perform, as well as the identification of the relation between anatomical and non-anatomical factors in each patient. Medical history, sleep studies, clinical examination, UA endoscopy in awake and drug-induced sedation, and imaging help the otorhinolaryngologist in selecting the surgical candidate, identifying OSA patients with mild UA collapsibility or tissue UA obstruction, which allow achievement of the best surgical outcomes. Literature data reported that the latest palatal surgical procedures, such as expansion sphincter palatoplasty or barbed reposition palatoplasty, which achieve soft palatal and lateral pharyngeal wall remodeling and stiffening, improved the Apnea Hypopnea Index, but the outcome analyses are still limited by methodological bias and the limited number of patients' in each study. Otherwise, the latest literature data have also demonstrated the role of UA surgery in the improvement of non-anatomical factors, confirming that a multidisciplinary and multimodality diagnostic and therapeutical approach to OSA patients could allow the best selection of customized treatment options and outcomes.

A custom-made mandibular repositioning device for obstructive sleep apnoea-hypopnoea syndrome: the ORCADES study.

BACKGROUND: Mandibular repositioning devices (MRDs) are usually recommended as the first therapy option in patients with mild-to-moderate obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). However, data on the long-term efficacy of MRDs are limited, not only in OSA patients who are noncompliant with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) but also in those with more severe OSA. The ORCADES study aimed to prospectively determine the long-term efficacy and tolerability of two custom-made Narval(™) MRDs for obstructive sleep apnoea-hypopnoea syndrome (OSAHS) patients. The interim 3- to 6-month data are reported. METHODS: Eligible patients had OSAHS and had refused or were noncompliant with prescribed CPAP. Outcome measurements after gradual mandibular advancement titration included: apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI), oxygen saturation, sleepiness, symptoms, quality of life, side effects and compliance. RESULTS: A total of 369 patients were included. Overall, MRD treatment was successful (≥50% decrease in AHI) in 76.2% of the participants; complete response (AHI <10/h) was achieved in 63.5%. Severe OSAHS was effectively treated (AHI <15/h) in about 60% of the participants; 38% had complete symptom resolution. Mandibular repositioning devices significantly decreased subjective sleepiness, eliminated symptoms and improved quality of life. They were well tolerated and compliance was excellent. Only 8% of the participants stopped MRD treatment due to side effects. CONCLUSION: Custom-made Narval(™) MRDs are effective for mild to severe OSA in patients who refuse or are noncompliant with CPAP. They are well tolerated and have excellent compliance.

EK Sign: A Wrinkling of Uvula and the Base of Uvula in Obstructive Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea Syndrome.

Introduction. Diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is suspected in the presence of symptoms and/or pharyngeal alterations and skeletal abnormalities of maxilla and mandible. Our aim is to find a new clinical sign that leads to suspicion of OSAHS in snorers. Methods. We reviewed the clinical data of 69 snoring patients with or without OSAHS. We defined EK sign as the presence of horizontal wrinkling of uvula and the base of uvula and tried to correlate its presence with OSAHS. Results. EK sign was present in 25 of 69 patients. The positive predictive value of EK sign is 100%. The presence of EK sign significantly correlated with OSAHS (44% if AHI ≥ 5 and 0% if AHI < 5; p = 0.01) and severity of OSAHS (7% if AHI < 15 and 58% with AHI ≥ 15; p < 0.001). Conclusions. The EK sign is a strong predictor of OSAHS with a specificity of 100%. We recommend performing sleep tests in presence of EK sign in snorers even in the absence of other abnormalities or symptoms.