Redefine the efficacy of surgical treatments for obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome / 临床耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Various surgical procedures are widely used for treating obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) currently. The most prominent advantage of surgery is the excellent long-term adherence, which is just the main limitation for the first-line treatment of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). However, nearly all the surgical procedures used now usually could not cure this disease completely. The success rate of the uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, which is the most widely used procedure, can only reach to 40% - 50% in terms of AHI Therefore, there are some opinions that the surgery should not be applied for treating this disease. In fact, the outcomes of surgical treatments should not be only evaluated basing on some of the objective results. In this article, the clinical significance of surgery based on objective and subjective data, and the effects on long-term consequences, the combination of surgery with CPAP, and the possible prospects of surgical treatments for this disease will be discussed. This may help us to redefine the clinical efficacy of surgery for the treatment of OSAHS.