Correlation between obstructive apnea syndrome and difficult airway in ENT surgery / Correlação entre síndrome da apneia obstrutiva e via aérea difícil na cirurgia otorrinolaringológica

Abstract Introduction: ENT patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome have a tendency of collapsing the upper airways in addition to anatomical obstacles. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is related to the increased risk of difficult airway and also increased perioperative complications. In order to identify these patients in the preoperative period, the STOP Bang questionnaire has been highlighted because it is summarized and easy to apply. Objectives: Evaluate through the STOP Bang questionnaire whether patients undergoing ENT surgery with a diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome have a higher risk of complications, particularly the occurrence of difficult airway. Casuistry and methods: Measurements of anatomical parameters for difficult airway and questionnaire application for clinical prediction of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome were performed in 48 patients with a previous polysomnographic study. Results: The sample detected difficult airway in about 18.7% of patients, all of them with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. This group had older age, cervical circumference > 40 cm, ASA II and Cormack III/IV. Patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome had higher body mass index, cervical circumference, and frequent apnea. In subgroup analysis, the group with severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome showed a significantly higher SB score compared to patients without this syndrome or with a mild/moderate obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Conclusions: The STOP Bang questionnaire was not able to predict difficult airway and mild obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, but it identified marked obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. All patients with difficult airway had moderate and marked obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, although this syndrome did not involve difficult airway. The variables Cormack III/IV and BMI greater than 35 kg.m−2 were able to predict difficult airway and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, respectively.

Resumo Introdução: Os pacientes cirúrgicos otorrinolaringológicos portadores da síndrome da apneia obstrutiva do sono apresentam, além de obstáculos anatômicos, tendência ao colapso das vias aéreas superiores. Síndrome da apneia obstrutiva do sono está relacionada ao maior risco de via aérea difícil e também aumento de complicações perioperatórias. A fim de se identificar esses pacientes no período pré-operatório, tem se destacado o questionário STOP Bang, por ser resumido e de fácil aplicação. Objetivos: Avaliar se pacientes submetidos à cirurgia otorrinolaringológica com diagnóstico de síndrome da apneia obstrutiva do sono pelo questionário STOP Bang apresentariam maior risco de complicações, particularmente ocorrência de via aérea difícil. Casuística e métodos: Feitas medidas de parâmetros anatômicos para via aérea difícil e administrado questionário para predição clínica de síndrome da apneia obstrutiva do sono em 48 pacientes com estudo polissonográfico prévio. Resultados: A amostra detectou via aérea difícil em 18,7% dos pacientes, todos portadores de síndrome da apneia obstrutiva do sono. Esse grupo apresentava maior idade, circunferência cervical > 40 cm, ASA II e Cormack III/IV. Os pacientes com síndrome da apneia obstrutiva do sono apresentaram maior índice de massa corpórea, circunferência cervical e frequência de apneia observada. Na análise de subgrupos, o grupo com síndrome da apneia obstrutiva do sono acentuada mostrou significantemente maior pontuação no SB quando comparado com pacientes sem síndrome da apneia obstrutiva do sono ou com síndrome da apneia obstrutiva do sono leve/moderada. Conclusões: O questionário STOP Bang não foi capaz de predizer via aérea difícil e nem síndrome da apneia obstrutiva do sono leve e moderada, mas identificou síndrome da apneia obstrutiva do sono acentuada. Todos pacientes com via aérea difícil apresentaram síndrome da apneia obstrutiva do sono moderada e acentuada, apesar desta síndrome não implicar em via aérea difícil. As variáveis Cormack III/IV e IMC maior do que 35 Kg.m-2 foram capazes de predizer via aérea difícil e síndrome da apneia obstrutiva do sono respectivamente.

[Correlation between obstructive apnea syndrome and difficult airway in ENT surgery]. / Correlação entre síndrome da apneia obstrutiva e via aérea difícil na cirurgia otorrinolaringológica.

INTRODUCTION: ENT patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome have a tendency of collapsing the upper airways in addition to anatomical obstacles. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is related to the increased risk of difficult airway and also increased perioperative complications. In order to identify these patients in the preoperative period, the STOP Bang questionnaire has been highlighted because it is summarized and easy to apply. OBJECTIVES: Evaluate through the STOP Bang questionnaire whether patients undergoing ENT surgery with a diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome have a higher risk of complications, particularly the occurrence of difficult airway. CASUISTRY AND METHODS: Measurements of anatomical parameters for difficult airway and questionnaire application for clinical prediction of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome were performed in 48 patients with a previous polysomnographic study. RESULTS: The sample detected difficult airway in about 18.7% of patients, all of them with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. This group had older age, cervical circumference > 40cm, ASA II and Cormack III/IV. Patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome had higher body mass index, cervical circumference, and frequent apnea. In subgroup analysis, the group with severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome showed a significantly higher SB score compared to patients without this syndrome or with a mild/moderate obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: The STOP Bang questionnaire was not able to predict difficult airway and mild obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, but it identified marked obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. All patients with difficult airway had moderate and marked obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, although this syndrome did not involve difficult airway. The variables Cormack III/IV and BMI greater than 35 Kg.m-2 were able to predict difficult airway and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, respectively.