Effect of Nasal Surgery in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome Patients

Abstract

We evaluated the effect of nasal and sinus surgery in 12 obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) patients using polysomnography (PSG). The average body mass index (BMI) was 24.0±2.5. According to cephalography, 9 were classified as maxilla, 5 as mandibular retrusion, 2 as tonsil hypertrophy, and 3 as soft palate low position. The average apnea hypopnea index (AHI) before surgery was 46.1±54.2 and that after surgery was 37.8±7.0. The barely improved conitions was not significant (p=0.3716) either as a whole, in actual sleep time, in half awakening, in arousal index, nor in sleep phase (Stage 1 to 4 and REM). The 3 soft palate patients showed no improvement.
Nasal and sinus surgery mainly improve nasal ventilation and induce oral breathing. The cases which nasal and sinus surgery independently AHI improves blockade (soft palate low position) at soft palate level were few, from oral breath induction possible in nasal breath. Nasal and sinus surgery assist in continuous positive nasal airway pressure, but surgery did not improve sleep. The degree of serious illness before surgery and formal cephalography diagnosis suggest expectation of improvement of nasal and sinus surgery independently which AHI becomes possible.