Surgical treatments for snoring.

UNLABELLED

Surgical treatments for snoring.

OBJECTIVES

To compare the results on snoring and sleepiness of different surgical treatments for sleep disordered breathing (SDB) including uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), functional expansion pharyngoplasty (FEP), osteotomy, septoplasty with turbinoplasty, and somnoplasty.

METHODOLOGY

Between May 2011 and December 2015, 329 patients presenting with SDB underwent a dedicated clinical examination, drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE), and polysomnography (PSG). Of these, 84 patients underwent surgical treatment. Treatments were evaluated through 4 questionnaires (snoring intensity, snoring severity, Epworth Sleepiness Scale [ESS], and global snoring score) before and 6 weeks and 6 months after treatment. Treatment success was defined as a global snoring visual analog scale score (VAS) ≤3 at 6 months.

RESULTS

The average age of the surgical group was 43 ± 11 years; the mean body mass index was 26 ±3 kg/m; and 88% were male. The snoring scores decreased significantly for every surgical technique at 6 weeks and 6 months. A higher reduction in the median snoring scores was observed in patients receiving UPPP/FEP and osteotomy compared to somnoplasty and septoplasty. Treatment was successful in 88% of the UPPP/FEP group, 92% of the osteotomy group, 61% of the septoplasty group, and 64% of the somnoplasty group.

CONCLUSIONS

All surgical treatments effectively and persistently reduced snoring and sleepiness symptom scores. The highest rates of success were observed with osteotomies and UPPP/FEP procedures.