Effectiveness of Uvulopalatoplasty and Nasal Surgery in OSAS Patients.

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of simultaneous uvulopalatoplasty and nasal surgery in patients with moderate obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 48 patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome and nasal breathing disorders. The 1st group of 20 patients underwent septoplasty and volumetric tissue reduction of inferior turbinates and the 2nd group of 28 patients underwent septoplasty, volumetric tissue reduction of inferior turbinate, uvulopalatoplasty.

RESULTS: In the 1st group, the pre-operative apnoea-hypopnea index median decreased from 22.1 ep/h to 14.9 ep/h after the surgery. Pre-operative median of nasal airflow volume grew from 167.0 cm3 to 609.5 cm3 post-operatively and the loudness of snoring decreased from 2.7±0.2 to 0.7±0.2. In the 2nd group, the apnoea-hypopnea index median decreased from 20.4 ep/h to 5.3 ep./h. The pre-operative median of nasal airflow volume grew from 189.5 cm3 to 519.5 cm3 post-operatively and the loudness of snoring improved from 2.6±0.2 pre-op to 1.1±0.2.

CONCLUSION: Patients with moderate obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome and nasal breathing disorders are advised to have nasal surgery combined with uvulopalatoplasty for a better outcome.