Nasopharyngeal tube: a simple and effective tool to screen patients indicated for glossopharyngeal surgery.

STUDY OBJECTIVES

The aim of this prospective controlled study was to explore the diagnostic value of repeated polysomnography (PSG) post-nasopharyngeal tube insertion in the setting of glossopharyngeal obstruction in obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).

METHODS

Patients were eligible for this study if they were diagnosed as OSAHS by the first PSG and presented with moderate to severe OSAHS by repeated PSG scanning post-nasopharyngeal tube insertion (NPT-PSG). Fifty-nine patients were enrolled into this study and assigned to received either modified uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (H-UPPP; n = 25) or H-UPPP in combination with glossopharyngeal surgery (n = 34).

RESULTS

General data and PSG data were collected prior to and following nasopharyngeal tube insertion and were found not to be significantly different. However, both the PSG and Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) were significantly superior in the combination group compared to the UPPP alone group post-surgery. The success rates of surgery were 82.3% and 40.0%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Patients with moderate to severe OSAHS post-nasopharyngeal tube insertion generally have glossopharyngeal obstruction. Glossopharyngeal surgery can significantly improve surgical outcome in the setting of OSAHS.