Pharyngeal disturbances in OSAS patients before and 1 year after UPPP.

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicate that conservative uvulopalatopharyngoplasty with tonsillectomy (UPPP) did not change the degree of pharyngeal disturbances in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).

OBJECTIVES

To investigate if the symptom scores of pharyngeal disturbances in OSAS patients were changed 1 year after UPPP, by using a questionnaire pre- and postoperatively, and to compare with healthy non-snoring controls.

METHODS

Fifty men and eight women, median age 46 years (range 25-75), median body mass index (BMI) 28 kg/m2 (20-38), and median preoperative oxygen desaturation index 16 (7-100) were included as they had all failed non-surgical treatment and wanted pharyngeal surgery. The questionnaire consisted of 10 questions with 4 degrees of disturbances; the maximum score was 30 and was evaluated before and 1 year after surgery. Fifteen age-, gender- and BMI-matched controls responded to the same questionnaire.

RESULTS

Responses to the questionnaire were provided pre- and postoperatively by 47 of 58 patients (81%). Their median score was unchanged from 5 (range 0-17) to 5 (0-19), compared with controls 1 (0-3). Analyses of separate questions showed a significant decrease in the score for 'globus sensation' and 'swelling' postoperatively.