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PubMed1994

Surgical treatment of obstructive sleep apnea by maxillomandibular advancement.

In recent years obstructive sleep apnea syndrome has gained increasing interest. Treatment of choice is nasal continuous positive airway pressure ventilation during sleep for upper airway patency, which does not cure sleep apnea and has to be applied throughout a patient's lifetime. In respect to various underlying pathomechanisms, in certain cases with craniofacial disorders, causal therapy by craniofacial osteotomies seems possible. A series of 21 consecutive patients with maxillary and mandibular deficiency were treated primarily with a 10-mm maxillomandibular advancement by retromolar sagittal split osteotomy and Le Fort-I osteotomy, respectively. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome was considerably improved in all patients. In 20 of 21 patients, the postoperative respiratory disturbance index (RDI) was reduced clearly to under 10, oxygen saturation rose and sleep quality improved. This was achieved by a maxillomandibular advancement of 10 mm without secondary refinements. In one patient the RDI could only be reduced to 20, probably due to insufficient maxillary advancement; oxygen desaturations still existed despite secondary corrections. These results indicate that successful surgical treatment is possible in a high percentage of selected patients with certain craniofacial characteristics. In addition to cardiorespiratory polysomnography there should be routine cephalometric evaluation of all patients. Maxillomandibular advancement should be offered as an alternative therapy to all patients with maxillary and/or mandibular deficiency or dolichofacial type in combination with narrow posterior airway space.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Adenotonsillectomy for obstructive sleep apnea in obese children: effects on respiratory parameters and clinical outcome.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of adenotonsillar surgery on respiratory sleep parameters and avoiding continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment in morbidly obese children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). DESIGN: Retrospective. SETTING: Tertiary referral institution. PATIENTS: Children aged 2 to 18 years, with a body mass index (BMI) at or higher than the 95th percentile (adjusted for age and sex), undergoing adenotonsillar surgery for OSAS. INTERVENTIONS: Adenotonsillectomy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Preoperative and postoperative respiratory disturbance index, oxygen saturation nadir, overall severity of OSAS (mild, moderate, or severe) and candidacy for CPAP treatment were assessed and compared. Variables such as age, severity of disease, adenotonsillar size, and BMI z scores were compared between responders and nonresponders to surgical treatment. RESULTS: A total of 19 patients with full preoperative and postoperative data for evaluation were identified. The median (SD) age was 78 months (53.3 months). The median (SD) BMI z score was 2.84 (0.94). Eighteen patients (95%) had OSAS preoperatively to warrant CPAP treatment. Surgery reduced the overall median (SD) respiratory disturbance index from 20.7 (24.5) to 7.3 (14.9) (P<.001) and improved the median (SD) oxygen saturation nadir from 77.5% (16.3%) to 88.5 (13.1%) (P<.01). A total of 7 patients (37%) were cured by surgery. Ten patients (53%) had postoperative disease of sufficient severity to require CPAP. Surgery obviated the need for further treatment in only 8 (44%) of the 18 patients with preoperative disease warranting CPAP. No differences were identified between responders and nonresponders to surgical treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Adenotonsillar surgery improves sleep respiratory parameters in morbidly obese children with OSAS. Most patients have residual OSAS requiring further treatment.

Adenoidectomy↗

PubMed2002

Home unattended vs hospital telemonitored polysomnography in suspected obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: a randomized crossover trial.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To compare home unattended polysomnography (H-PSG) with polysomnography performed in a local hospital and telemonitored by a sleep laboratory (T-PSG) in the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). DESIGN: Randomized crossover trial. PATIENTS: Ninety-nine patients with suspected OSAS who underwent H-PSG and T-PSG on 2 consecutive nights, according to a randomized order. MEASUREMENTS: H-PSG and T-PSG were compared in terms of (1) effectiveness, only recordings providing interpretable signals from at least one EEG, the electro-oculograph, the electromyograph, air flow, thoracic or abdominal movements, and arterial oxygen saturation for 180 min of sleep were considered to be effective; (2) patient preference assessed by a questionnaire; and (3) polysomnographic indexes and final interpretative results in patients for whom both recordings were legible. RESULTS: Recordings were considered to be ineffective in 11.2% of T-PSG (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.9 to 17.4%) and in 23.4% of H-PSG (95% CI, 19.12 to 27.68%). Thermistor problems were the main cause of failure of H-PSG. Forty-one percent of patients preferred H-PSG, and 55% preferred T-PSG. H-PSG and T-PSG did not differ in terms of sleep and respiratory indexes in the 65 patients in whom both recordings were legible. H-PSG and T-PSG were concordant in 58 of 65 patients using a 10-event-per-hour apnea-hypopnea index cutoff value for the diagnosis of OSAS. CONCLUSIONS: T-PSG is clearly superior to H-PSG from a technical point of view and tends to be preferred by patients. The site of recording (home vs hospital) has no influence on polysomnographic indexes.

Cross-Over Studies↗

PubMed2000

Timing patterns of cluster headaches and association with symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea.

Cluster headaches (CH) frequently recur at the same point in the circadian cycle, often during sleep. They may, in some cases, represent a susceptible individual's response to hypoxemia or other physiological changes induced by obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). If and when this mechanism exists, timing of CH close to the onset of sleep-and therefore OSA-might be expected. We questioned 36 subjects with CH about the times at which their CH usually occurred and about several symptoms known to be predictive of OSA, including habitual snoring, loud snoring, observed apneas and excessive daytime sleepiness. We then used logistic regression to determine whether occurrence of CH in each of six time periods was associated with OSA symptoms. The 23 subjects (64%) who reported CH in the first half of a typical night's sleep also tended to report headaches during the midday/afternoon period. Symptoms of OSA, and in particular habitual snoring, were predictive of both first-half-of-the-night and midday/afternoon CH (p<.05). Thirty-one subjects (86%) reported that their CH were sleep-related, usually occurring during any part of the night or on awakening, but symptoms of OSA were not predictive of this timing pattern. In short, several OSA symptoms showed an association with CH occurrence in the first half of the night but not with sleep-related CH in general. These findings suggest that in some patients, physiological consequences of OSA may trigger CH during the first few hours of sleep and thereby influence the timing of subsequent daytime headaches.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

[Value of various intra- and extraoral therapeutic procedures for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea and snoring].

BACKGROUND: Recently intra- and extraoral devices are increasingly used in order to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and snoring. We examined the value of some devices according to the literature and our own results. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The mandibular advancing devices aim at increasing upper airway diameter. The active part of the tongue extending device (SnorEx) is a stamp connected to a piston which exerts pressure at the base of the tongue causing its forward displacement; we studied 23 patients. The principle of an optically stimulating system ("eye-cover", Snore-Stop) consists of a microphone and light diods which are integrated in the eye-cover. After detecting acoustic signals (for example snoring) optical stimuli are generated in front of the eyes, which are thought to induce arousals causing a change of body position and the reduction of the snoring and apneas; we measured 24 patients. The principle of the tongue-retainer (Snore-Master) is the fixation of the tongue in a ventral position, which is thought to enlarge the mesopharyngeal area; we studied 14 patients. The nose plaster (Breathe-Right) contains an elastic spine that pulls the alae nasi cranial. This manipulation is thought to increase the diameter of the nostril and reduce the airway resistance. We measured 30 patients with obstructive sleep apnea and 20 snoring subjects without obstructive sleep apnea. RESULTS: Regarding the mandibular advancing due to different appliance designs and study protocols variable success rates have been documented. In patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea a reduction of the sleep related breathing disorder could be shown. Non compliance (NC) to the tongue extending device was 75% (17/23). Non-compliance-patients were characterized by unacceptable local-side-effects of the prosthesis, lacking improvement of symptoms and of the respiratory disturbance index. Both tongue-retainer and -extensor are characterized by a high incidence of local side effects. Neither the eye-cover nor the nose plaster could improve the severity of obstructive sleep apnoe or snoring. In contrast to another study we could not show a significant effect of the tongue-retainer. CONCLUSIONS: Neither the nose plaster nor the optical stimulating device influenced the degree of obstructive sleep apnea and snoring. There are conflicting data regarding the tongue retainer. The high rate of non-compliant subjects and the low efficacy of the tongue extending prosthesis precludes large-scale use of this treatment modality in patients with obstructive sleep apnoe and snoring. In selected individuals suffering from a mild to moderate degree of obstructive sleep apnea with CPAP-inefficiency and -incompliance the mandibular advancing principle may be an therapeutic alternative to CPAP.

Equipment Design↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Cardiovascular disorders and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

The first polysomnographic recordings with concomitant monitoring of cardiocirculatory parameters demonstrated that obstructive apneas arising during sleep are accompanied by a marked increase in pulmonary and systemic arterial pressure and severe alveolar hypoventilation. Apneas also may give rise to cardiac arrhythmias, namely potentially life-threatening bradyarrhythmias. The long-term repercussions of these nocturnal cardiocirculatory changes on subsequent cardiovascular diseases and the patient's life expectancy are more controversial. There is little doubt that patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) have systemic arterial hypertension, ischemic heart disease, transient ischemic attacks, or stroke more often than control populations and have a shorter life expectancy. However, these clinical manifestations may be at least partly due to myriad other risk factors almost always present in OSAS patients (in particular obesity, diabetes, alcoholism, and cigarette smoking). Few multivariate epidemiological surveys have addressed all these confounding factors. The effectiveness of continuous positive airway pressure treatment in reducing the incidence of cardiovascular comorbidity in OSAS patients is not disputed, even though controlled epidemiological surveys on large populations are scant. This overview of cardiovascular disorders and OSAS examines the latest literature findings aimed at establishing the true impact of nocturnal apneas on cardiocirculatory disease (systemic arterial hypertension, ischemic heart disease, stroke, pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure and mortality).

Blood Pressure↗

PubMed2004

Effect of nasal continuous positive airway pressure in uncontrolled nocturnal asthmatic patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

The mechanisms of nocturnal asthma are intimately related to circadian rhythms, which influence inflammatory cells and mediators, hormone levels and cholinergic tone. Nocturnal airway narrowing in asthma is sometimes associated with sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). The aims of this study were to evaluate the association of nocturnal asthma and OSAS, and investigate the influence of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy to improve nighttime symptoms in asthmatic patients with OSAS. Forty-three asthmatic patients who had nocturnal symptoms in spite of the optimal medical treatment according to the Global Initiative for Asthma guidelines and associated with snoring were studied. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs), asthma nighttime symptom scores, and polysomnography were performed on all patients. We treated the patients with an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) 15 (moderate-severe OSAS) (n=16) with CPAP during 2 months. After 2 months, PFT, asthma nighttime symptom scores were reperformed. There was no significant difference in PFT values before and after CPAP treatment in OSAS patients. Asthma nighttime symptom scores were improved significantly (P<0.05) after CPAP treatment. In conclusion, in some patients with nocturnal asthma, OSAS may be responsible disease for nocturnal symptoms. In this condition, CPAP improves nocturnal symptoms without amelioration in PFT abnormalities.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea: the year in review.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: In recent years several daytime symptoms resulting from pediatric obstructive sleep apnea have been recognized that affect neurobehavioral and cognitive functioning. It is important to identify patients who will benefit from treatment. Up until now the systematic analysis of obstructive sleep apnea in children has been hindered by both variable diagnostic criteria and patient care protocols. This review examines the effects of obstructive sleep apnea in children as well as treatment outcomes. Recent data suggest that some diagnostic modalities may underestimate the prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing in children. RECENT FINDINGS: A review of the data from the past year shows a significant correlation between obstructive sleep apnea and daytime symptoms. It also shows mitigation of these symptoms with appropriate treatment. The directed history and physical examination continue to be the most effective means of diagnosis in most affected children. The polysomnogram is considered the gold standard for diagnosis but may underestimate the presence of sleep-disordered breathing in children. Some children with the diagnosis of primary snoring will benefit from treatment. SUMMARY: In view of the profound effects of obstructive sleep apnea in children, it is vital to develop an accurate and universal system for diagnosing and treating these patients. Adenotonsillar hypertrophy is the major cause of obstructive sleep apnea in children. A directed history and physical examination followed by tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy are effective in improving the physical sequelae and quality of life of affected children.

Adenoidectomy↗

PubMed1996

Investigating the relationship between stroke and obstructive sleep apnea.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We aimed to prospectively determine whether the incidence of obstructive sleep apnea in patients with recent stroke was significantly different from that of a sex- and age-matched control group with no major medical problems. METHODS: We prospectively performed overnight polysomnography in 24 patients with a recent stroke (13 men and 11 women; mean age [+/- SD], 64.6 +/- 10.4 years) and 27 subjects without stroke (13 men and 14 women; mean age, 61.6 +/- 8.8 years). Patients with either ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke were entered into this study. Polysomnographic evaluations were performed within approximately 2 to 5 weeks after each patient's stroke. RESULTS: Obstructive sleep apnea was found in 10 of 13 men with stroke (77%) and in only 3 of 13 male subjects without stroke (23%) (P=.0169). Seven of 11 women with stroke (64%) had obstructive sleep apnea, while only 2 of 14 female subjects without stroke (14%) had obstructive sleep apnea (P=.0168). For men with stroke, the mean apnea/hypopnea index (+/- SE) was 21.5 +/- 4.2 events per hour, while for male subjects without stroke it was 4.8 +/- 1.8 events per hour (P=.0014). For women with stroke the mean apnea/hypopnea index was 31.6 +/- 8.8 events per hour, while for female subjects without stroke it was 2.9 +/- 1.6 events per hour (P=.0024). The 4-year mortality for patients with stroke was 20.8%. All patients with stroke who died had obstructive sleep apnea. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with stroke have an increased incidence of obstructive sleep apnea compared with normal sex- and age-matched control subjects. Hypoxia and hemodynamic responses to obstructive sleep apnea may have predisposed these patients to stroke.

Aged↗

PubMed2003

Upper airway response to electrical stimulation of the genioglossus in obstructive sleep apnea.

Contraction of the genioglossus (GG) has been shown to improve upper airway patency. In the present study, we evaluated responses in upper airway pressure-flow relationships during sleep to electrical stimulation (ES) of the GG in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. Five patients with chronically implanted hypoglossal nerve (HG) electrodes and nine patients with fine-wire electrodes inserted into the GG were studied. Airflow was measured at multiple levels of nasal pressure, and upper airway collapsibility was defined by the nasal pressure below which airflow ceased ["critical" pressure (Pcrit)]. ES shifted the pressure-flow relationships toward higher flow levels in all patients over the entire range of nasal pressure applied. Pcrit decreased similarly during both HG-ES and GG-ES (deltaPcrit was 3.98 +/- 2.31 and 3.18 +/- 1.70 cmH2O, respectively) without a significant change in upstream resistance. The site of collapse (velo- vs. oropharynx) did not influence the response to GG-ES. Moreover, ES-induced reductions in the apnea-hypopnea index of the HG-ES patients were associated with substantial decreases in Pcrit. Our findings imply that responses in apnea severity to HG-ES can be predicted by characterizing the patient's baseline pressure-flow relationships and response to GG-ES.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in children with syndromal craniofacial synostosis.

Children with syndromal craniofacial synostosis have a high risk for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Early diagnosis and treatment can relieve symptoms and morbidity. Little is known about the development and natural history of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome through life. The aim of this study was to investigate our experience of clinical history and treatment modalities concerning obstructive sleep apnea syndrome from birth until the current age in children with syndromal craniofacial synostosis. Children with one of the three syndromal craniofacial synostoses (Apert, Crouzon, or Pfeiffer) born between 1984 and 2001 were evaluated. The medical history and symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome were assessed by retrospective analysis of the medical records. The present and past complaints were explored by means of a questionnaire. Retrospective analysis of the medical records showed a suspicion for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in 26% of the children compared with 53% in the questionnaire. The severity and presentation of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome were not related to the age of the child. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome symptoms occurred in almost half of the children during colds. Several symptoms were significantly more common in children with a high suspicion for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Treatment modalities consisted of adenotonsillectomies, continuous positive airway pressure, and Le Fort III surgery. Use of a standard questionnaire showed that the suspicion for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in children with syndromal craniofacial synostosis is much higher than reported in the medical records. Regular screening for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome with a standard questionnaire could be of additional value for the detection of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in children with syndromal craniofacial synostosis.

Acrocephalosyndactylia↗

PubMed2000

Outcomes research and obstructive sleep apnea.

Sleep disorders in general and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in particular are prevalent health problems. This report describe the methodology and findings from a prospective multicenter outcomes research study on obstructive sleep apnea syndrome that was conducted by the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Other outcome measures available for outcomes research in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome are also summarized.

Attitude to Health↗

PubMed1985

Medical therapy of obstructive sleep apnea.

Guidelines for the medical therapy of obstructive sleep apnea are difficult to define precisely. While some elegant investigations have been completed, most study populations have been small. Also, the long-term effects of most forms of therapy are not known. Some patients will respond to a given form of therapy or combination of therapies while others will not. In most instances the responders cannot be recognized prior to the institution of therapy and a cycle of trial and error ensues. One of the best nonsurgical approaches appears to be weight loss, albeit unsuccessful in most cases. Almost all experts would agree, however, that in nonemergent situations weight loss should be strongly suggested. Nasal CPAP appears to be the single most promising device. Protriptyline may have a role, although in our opinion its true efficacy remains to be determined. Oxygen will probably serve more an adjunctive role in therapy, and medroxyprogesterone appears to be beneficial only in the treatment of the obesity-hypoventilation syndrome. A reasonable approach to the medical treatment of the obstructive sleep apnea patient should include, first, by history, physical examination, and appropriate laboratory testing, elimination of anatomically correctable, pharmacologic, or endocrinologic causes of OSA. If apnea length, degree of desaturation, cardiac arrhythmias, or levels of hypersomnolence are so severe as to be potentially life threatening, immediate tracheostomy is suggested. In specialized centers, nasal CPAP would be used. In less severely affected patients, medical management, as discussed above, should begin. We believe that in view of the lack of controlled trials demonstrating which form of therapy is best, the clinician must recommend therapy on the basis of local clinical experience and patient acceptance. Of fundamental importance is the need for serial reevaluation so that the impact of therapeutic failure can be minimized.

Almitrine↗

PubMed2004

Gender differences in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: a clinical study of 1166 patients.

The objective of this study was to compare the frequency of some sociocultural, clinical, and anthropometric data between men and women in a sample of 1745 patients referred to a Sleep Unit for symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). A standardized questionnaire was administered and anthropometric data were measured. Patients underwent a polysomnography (during a night or a nap) or an overnight home cardiorespiratory polygraphy. A total of 1166 patients (male/female ratio 4.9:1) fulfilled criteria of OSA (apnea-hypopnea index > or = 10). Women were employed, habitual drivers or workers at risk occupations in a lower percentage than men. Women came to the clinical interview accompanied by their partner less frequently than men. The frequency of snoring and daytime hypersomnolence was similar in both genders, although witnessed apneas were more frequent in males. Fatigue, morning headaches, insomnia, depression and use of sedatives were more frequent in women than in men. Women were older than men, more obese (although with an obesity pattern less centrally distributed), and referred hypertension more frequently. It is concluded that it is likely that women with OSA may be underdiagnosed due to circumstances related to the family lifestyle and sociocultural factors in addition to different OSA clinical expression.

Body Composition↗

PubMed2004

Large anterior skull base lesions in patients presenting with obstructive sleep apnea. Report of two cases and review of the literature.

Patients with sleep apnea often are treated by sleep disorder specialists and are studied in a sleep laboratory. The authors present two such patients who ultimately were found to harbor large benign anterior skull base lesions that caused their obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The first patient had a massive pituitary tumor and had undergone a tracheostomy before the lesion was diagnosed. The second patient had a large frontoethmoidal encephalocele that was diagnosed at the same time as a recommendation for continuous positive airway pressure therapy was being considered. Such therapy in the presence of an encephalocele can be dangerous and even fatal. Although there are case reports of tumors causing OSA, nearly all of these lesions have been large pharyngeal lipomas (some of which were palpable in the neck during physical examination) or growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenomas. The patients reported here were completely unaware of the presence of these large lesions until imaging studies and/or nasal endoscopy were performed. These cases illustrate the need to perform nasopharyngeal endoscopy and also to obtain magnetic resonance images of the head before prescribing therapy for OSA. Neurosurgeons must be aware that large skull base lesions sometimes present only with OSA.

Adenoma↗

PubMed2005

Obstructive sleep apnea as a risk factor for stroke and death.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have suggested that the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome may be an important risk factor for stroke. It has not been determined, however, whether the syndrome is independently related to the risk of stroke or death from any cause after adjustment for other risk factors, including hypertension. METHODS: In this observational cohort study, consecutive patients underwent polysomnography, and subsequent events (strokes and deaths) were verified. The diagnosis of the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome was based on an apnea-hypopnea index of 5 or higher (five or more events per hour); patients with an apnea-hypopnea index of less than 5 served as the comparison group. Proportional-hazards analysis was used to determine the independent effect of the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome on the composite outcome of stroke or death from any cause. RESULTS: Among 1022 enrolled patients, 697 (68 percent) had the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. At baseline, the mean apnea-hypopnea index in the patients with the syndrome was 35, as compared with a mean apnea-hypopnea index of 2 in the comparison group. In an unadjusted analysis, the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome was associated with stroke or death from any cause (hazard ratio, 2.24; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.30 to 3.86; P=0.004). After adjustment for age, sex, race, smoking status, alcohol-consumption status, body-mass index, and the presence or absence of diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, atrial fibrillation, and hypertension, the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome retained a statistically significant association with stroke or death (hazard ratio, 1.97; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.12 to 3.48; P=0.01). In a trend analysis, increased severity of sleep apnea at baseline was associated with an increased risk of the development of the composite end point (P=0.005). CONCLUSIONS: The obstructive sleep apnea syndrome significantly increases the risk of stroke or death from any cause, and the increase is independent of other risk factors, including hypertension.

Cohort Studies↗

PubMed2000

Tonsillectomy as a treatment of obstructive sleep apnea in adults with tonsillar hypertrophy.

OBJECTIVES: High surgical success rates for adenotonsillectomy in children with sleep-related breathing disorders have been described in various studies. The purposes of the present study were to observe how often a substantial tonsillar hypertrophy is associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults and to evaluate the efficiency of a bilateral tonsillectomy. STUDY DESIGN: Data from a prospective study with 11 adults who underwent tonsillectomy as single treatment for sleep-related breathing disorders were evaluated based on the severity level of their preoperative apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Within 3 years, 11 patients with a substantial tonsillar hypertrophy underwent attended polysomnography in the sleep laboratory. Tonsillectomy was performed, and postoperative complications and polysomnographic findings were reviewed. Follow-up time was 3 to 6 months. RESULTS: Nine of 11 patients (81.8%) were diagnosed with OSA. Five of these patients exhibited severe OSA, four patients had mild OSA, and two patients were simple snorers with an AHI below 10. The surgical response rates (defined as decrease in the postoperative AHI > or = 50% and a postoperative AHI of less than 20) were 80.0% in severe apneics and 100% in mild apneics. No serious complications occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Substantial tonsillar hypertrophy can rarely cause OSA in adults. In the carefully selected patient a tonsillectomy should be considered an effective and safe surgical option for the treatment of this disorder.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Usefulness of cephalometry in sparing polysomnography of patients with suspected obstructive sleep apnea.

The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the contribution of cephalometry to a statistical model integrating clinical, physical, and oximetric variables, to reduce demands for polysomnographies. Two hundred and twenty-five consecutive patients that had been referred to the sleep clinic for suspected obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) were studied. The clinical assessment of all patients consisted of a sleep related questionnaire, the Epworth sleepiness scale, and a physical examination. In addition, they all underwent spirometry, cephalometry, and a full polysomnography. The clinical variables related with OSA were questions concerning witnessing of apneas by bed partners, intensity of snoring, a history of hypertension, and nocturia. A significant relation was also found with score on the Epworth scale, sex, age, body mass index, neck and waist circumferences, total number and frequency of oxygen desaturations, and the lowest oxygen saturation value. Significant cephalometric measurements were: the linear distance from gonion to gnathion, from the hyoid bone to the mandibular plane, and from the posterior nasal spine to the tip of the soft palate, and the thickness of the uvula as well. A statistical model was built to estimate a patient's probability of having OSA based on clinical variables, physical examination, pulse oximetry, and cephalometry. The validation of this model demonstrated a remarkable ability in reducing the number of polysomnographic studies. We conclude that cephalometry combined with clinical variables, physical examination, and nocturnal oximetry is useful in the diagnosis of OSA and enables the sparing of a considerable number of polysomnographies.

Adult↗