Effect of drilling on otolithic organ functions in mastoidectomy.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the effect of drilling during mastoidectomy on otolithic organ functions and development of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo using objective vestibular tests. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 45 adult patients diagnosed with chronic otitis media who underwent mastoidectomy with drilling. Pre-operative and post-operative assessments included tests for subjective visual vertical deviation and videonystagmography. RESULTS: Subjective visual vertical deviation was significantly higher in post-operative periods. On the third day, the subjective visual vertical deviation was at its maximum (1.4 degrees). Post-operatively, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo was detected in 14 patients (31.1 per cent). The most common type was ipsilateral lateral canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (57.1 per cent). CONCLUSION: The effect of drilling on otolithic organ functions in mastoidectomy seems to be temporary and subclinical; however, it potentially could be a risk factor for the development of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

Effect of ocular fixation on positional nystagmus in BPPV patients.

OBJECTIVE: The quantitative suppression rate of positional nystagmus (PN) by ocular fixation (OF) is unknown. This study aims to analyse the effect of OF on the slow phase velocity (SPV) of PN during diagnostic positional manoeuvres (DPMs) with videonystagmography in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). DESIGN: DPMs were performed on 58 patients with BPPV, 33 (56.9%) of whom were women. OF was initiated when PN was most evident, and recording was continued. The mean SPV of three consecutive nystagmus before (F0) and after (F1) OF initiation was calculated. The rate of suppression of PN by OF was found in percent with the formula (F0 - F1) x 100/F0. STUDY SAMPLE: 58 patients were included in this study. RESULTS: The mean age was 56.1 ± 11.2 (range 27-76). F0 and F1 values were calculated as 5.742 ± 5.589 and 1.948 ± 3.424 degrees/second, respectively (p < 0.001). The rate of suppression of PN by OF was found to be 66.1%. CONCLUSIONS: OF significantly suppresses PN during DPMs in BPPV patients. Elimination of OF during DPMs is important for accurate diagnosis.

Correlation of Clinical and Pathological Diagnosis and Inflammatory Markers for Patients Undergoing Laryngeal Microsurgery.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the rate of concordance between indirect- and direct laryngoscopy and final pathology in patients undergoing laryngeal microsurgery. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case study. METHODS: This study was conducted in the Otolaryngology clinic of a tertiary center between January 2017 and June 2020. Archives records of 432 patients, who underwent laryngeal microsurgery because of benign and premalignant lesions or malignancy, were examined. The patients were divided into three subgroups according to pathology results: benign lesions, premalignant lesions, and malignancies. RESULTS: There were 400 laryngeal lesions from 385 patients, that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 307 (79.7%) were male and 78 were (20.3%) female. The average age of patients was 52.88 ± 13.21 years. The most common diagnosis was polyp (34.25%) followed by squamous cell carcinoma (27.75%) and Reinke's edema (8.25%) according to final pathology. For the benign laryngeal lesions, a high correlation level was observed regarding the compatibility of the indirect- and direct laryngoscopy diagnosis, and final pathology (P < 0.001). The laryngeal premalignant lesions and malignancies were significantly more common in older age and male gender (P <0.001). Similarly, smoking usage was more frequent in patients with premalignant lesions and malignancy (P <0.001). The neutrophil count, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, platelet to lymphocyte ratio, neutrophil to platelet ratio as well as CRP value were significantly higher in malignancy group (P <0.05). On the other hand, lymphocyte ratio was smaller in the malignancy group compared with the benign and premalignant lesions, and this difference was significant (P = 0.016). CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated a high rate of agreement between the clinical diagnosis and pathology results in patients with benign laryngeal lesions, in contrast to premalignant lesions and malignancies. Also, the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, platelet to lymphocyte ratio, neutrophil to platelet ratio as well as CRP were shown to be increased in patients with laryngeal malignancies.

Supraclavicular artery island flap for head and neck reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: The ablative surgical resection has a critical importance for achieving better oncological outcomes for patients with head and neck cancer. However, radical surgical resections reveal the reconstruction requirement of complex anatomical structures. Microvascular free flaps have been recommended as a gold standard treatment choice for head and neck reconstruction following definitive oncological surgery. The supraclavicular artery island flap (SCAIF) is a thin and reliable fasciocutaneous pedicled flap that is simple and quick to harvest. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 19 patients who underwent head and neck reconstruction with SCAIF were included in this study. The SCAIF was used for the reconstruction of oncological defects in 17 patients while it was used for the reconstruction of a skin defect on the lower face following radiotherapy in 1 patient and for cervical open wound (blast injury) closure in 1 patient. RESULTS: There were neither intraoperative nor postoperative major complications in any patient. The SCAIF has been used successfully in 18 of 19 patients for head and neck reconstructive surgery. Partial necrosis of the skin was detected in 1 patient (5.3%) only, while a total flap failure has not occurred in any patient. The partial skin necrosis was seen in an area of 1.5 cm of the distal end of the flap and was managed conservatively with local wound care. Wound dehiscence has not appeared in the flap donor area in any patient. CONCLUSION: The SCAIF constitutes a good alternative to free flaps, providing almost equivalent functional results and requiring less operative time and surgical effort.

[Chronic pain in bone anchored hearing aids]. / Kemige implante isitme cihazlarinda kronik agri.

The complications of bone anchored hearing aids are very rare. The most seen postoperative complication is soft tissue reaction locally occuring around the titanium implant. Chronic headache is a rarely seen complication related to bone anchored hearing aids application. We presented a patient having complaints of chronic headache and burning sensation after bone anchored hearing aids application. Follow up for one year after the operation, despite the local and systemic therapies, there was no improvement of symptoms and the device was compulsorily removed. This rare complication of bone anchored hearing aids application is reviewied in the literature and probable reasons of failure are discussed.

Rates of success in hearing and grafting in the perichondrium-preserved palisade island graft technique / Taxas de sucesso na audição e em timpanoplastias com a técnica de enxerto de cartilagem em ilha e paliçada preservado em pericôndrio

Abstract Introduction Various graft materials have been used in the tympanoplasty technique. Cartilage grafts are being used increasingly in recent years. Objective The aim of this study was to present the comparative outcomes of the perichondrium-preserved palisade island graft technique previously defined by ourselves. Methods We retrospectively compared the hearing and graft success rates in 108 patients with chronic otitis media, who had undergone cartilage tympanoplasty, where both island and perichondrium-preserved palisade graft techniques were used. Results The success rates among the study and the control groups with regard to graft take were 97% and 93%, respectively. No significant difference was observed between the groups with regard to the postoperative mean pure tone values, improvement in air-bone gaps and reduction in air-bone gaps to under 20 dB. However, better results were observed in the study group. Conclusion The perichondrium-preserved palisade island graft technique is an easy method with high graft success rates and hearing outcomes.

Resumo Introdução Vários materiais de enxerto têm sido usados na realização de timpanoplastias. Nos últimos anos, os enxertos de cartilagem têm sido cada vez mais usados. Objetivo Apresentar os resultados comparativos da técnica de enxerto de cartilagem em ilha associada e paliçada preservado em pericôndrio previamente descrita pelos autores. Método Foram comparadas retrospectivamente as taxas de sucesso auditivo e na "pega" do enxerto em 108 pacientes com otite média crônica, submetidos a timpanoplastia com cartilagem, na qual foram usadas ambas as técnicas, de enxerto em ilha e paliçada preservado em pericôndrio. Resultados As taxas de sucesso entre os grupos de estudo e controle em relação à "pega" do enxerto foram de 97% e 93%, respectivamente. Não foi observada diferença significante entre os grupos em relação aos valores médios dos tons puros, melhoria do gap ou redução do aéreo-ósseo para menos de 20 dB no pós-operatório. No entanto, melhores resultados foram observados no grupo de estudo. Conclusão A técnica de enxerto em ilha associada e paliçada preservado em pericôndrio é um métodofácil, com altas taxas de sucesso tanto do enxerto quanto dos resultados auditivos.

Rates of success in hearing and grafting in the perichondrium-preserved palisade island graft technique.

INTRODUCTION: Various graft materials have been used in the tympanoplasty technique. Cartilage grafts are being used increasingly in recent years. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to present the comparative outcomes of the perichondrium-preserved palisade island graft technique previously defined by ourselves. METHODS: We retrospectively compared the hearing and graft success rates in 108 patients with chronic otitis media, who had undergone cartilage tympanoplasty, where both island and perichondrium-preserved palisade graft techniques were used. RESULTS: The success rates among the study and the control groups with regard to graft take were 97% and 93%, respectively. No significant difference was observed between the groups with regard to the postoperative mean pure tone values, improvement in air-bone gaps and reduction in air-bone gaps to under 20dB. However, better results were observed in the study group. CONCLUSION: The perichondrium-preserved palisade island graft technique is an easy method with high graft success rates and hearing outcomes.

Nasal Septum and External Nasal Deformity Similarities in Monozygotic Twins and Paranasal Computed Tomography Analysis.

Since identical twins occur as a result of the division of one egg, they have the same genetic structure. Therefore, their phenotypes and sex are also always the same. However, due to the effect of environmental factors, some of the characteristics of twins living in different regions appear to develop differently. In our case of 17-year-old maternal twins, we emphasized that nasal pathologies carried a genetic background in terms of their similarity in septum deviation and external nasal deformity, which were determined to have occurred without a history of trauma. The article has also been presented at 10th Turkish Rhinology Congress, 22-25 May, 2014 Antalya, Turkey.

The role of upper airway morphology in apnea versus hypopnea predominant obstructive sleep apnea patients: an exploratory study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the association between upper airway morphology and apnea vs hypopnea predominance in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome. METHODS: A retrospective study on consecutively CT scans obtained from 54 OSA patients and 53 non-snoring controls. CT scans were measured to evaluate upper airway and surrounding structures' morphologic characteristics. OSA patients (matched for age, gender and body mass index) compared as two groups; apneic group: apnea ratio >50% and hypopneic group: hypopnea ratio >50%. Morphologic characteristics were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis test and Pearson's correlation test. RESULTS: Apneic group (17 patients) showed 76.56% apnea rate and hypopneic group (37 patients) showed 78.46% hypopnea rate. Minimal lateral and anteroposterior dimensions of velopharynx in the apneic group (0.86 ± 0.73 and 0.21 ± 0.13 cm, respectively) was statistically lesser from that of the hypopneic group (1.2 ± 0.42 and 0.54 ± 0.22 cm, respectively). Minimum cross-sectional area of the velopharynx was also lesser in apneic group (0.21 ± 0.16 cm2) than that in hypopneic group (0.65 ± 0.38 cm2). Almost all upper airway parameters in both apneic and hypopneic groups were tended to be smaller than in controls. CONCLUSION: Decrease in airway volume does not signify the type of respiratory event, but significant narrowing of velopharynx in both dimensions; thus having the narrowest value below a certain level causes more apnea. Advances in knowledge: We did not find a similar study when we did a literature search, showing the relationship of apnea vs hypopnea predominance and upper airway parameters in CT in patients with OSA.

Ginkgo biloba and Lycopene are Effective on Cisplatin Induced Ototoxicity?

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the anti-ototoxic impact of Ginkgo biloba extract and lycopene on the model of cisplatin-induced ototoxicity in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-two Wistar albino rats were examined with the distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) test (MADSEN Capella2 ; GN Otometrics, ICS Medical, Chicago USA), and they were randomly divided into four groups. Group 1 (n=8) was defined as the healthy control group. Cisplatin was given intraperitoneally as single dose of 12 mg/kg to group 2 (n=8), group 3 (n=8), and group 4 (n=8). Group 2 was determined as ototoxic control group. G. biloba extract (100 mg/kg) was given to group 3, and 20 mg/kg lycopene was given to group 4 with orogastric feeding tube daily for 10 days. DPOAE test was repeated on day 10 on all the groups. Finally, histopathological examination was performed. The study has been lead in agreement with the principles by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee Review Board at Kocaeli University Medical Center (KOÜ HADYEK- 1/9-14). The animals were treated in accordance with protocols approved by this committee. RESULTS: When DPOAE tests were compared, there was no significant difference in the four groups before the application (p > 0.05). At the end of day 10, in groups 2 to 4, statistically significant changes were observed (p < 0.05). According to the cisplatin group, a significant increase in the DP-grams on G. biloba and lycopene groups was observed (p < 00.5). Corti organ and spiral ganglion neurons of groups 1, 3, and 4 were observed to have weak expression. Strong reactions were determined in organum spirale and some spiral ganglions of the cisplatin group. The striae vascularis damage on group 2 was found to be more significant more compared with groups 3 and 4. CONCLUSION: There is a protective effect of G. biloba and lycopene on cisplatin-dependent ototoxic rat model.

An often neglected area in crooked nose: middle turbinate pneumatization / Uma área frequentemente negligenciada no nariz torto: pneumatização da concha média

Abstract Introduction: Crooked or deviated nose is a deviation of the nose from the straight vertical position of the face. Extensive pneumatization of the middle turbinate, also called concha bullosa or bullous middle turbinate (BMT) is known to be one of the possible etiologic factors in nasal obstruction, recurrent sinusitis, and headache. There is no study concerning a link between BMT and crooked nose. Objective: To investigate the association between crooked nose and the presence of a BMT. Methods: A total of 199 patients who underwent open septorhinoplasty were retrospectively analyzed. Preoperative paranasal Computerized Tomography (CT) findings, preoperative photodocumentation, and anterior rhinoscopic examination findings were documented. Of the 199 patients, 169 were found to meet the criteria and were included in the study. CT scans were examined to note the presence of BMT, inferior turbinate hypertrophy, and septum deviation (SD). SDs and crooked noses were classified. Results: Ninety-four of 169 patients (56%) presented a crooked nose deformity and seventy-five of 169 patients (44%) presented a straight nose. While 49 (52%) crooked nose patients had a bulbous and extensive BMT, 20 patients with straight nose (26.6%) had a BMT. A statistically significant relationship was found between the presence of crooked nose and BMT, regardless of the side of the disease (p = 0.011). Conclusion: This study revealed a link between crooked nose and BMT.

Resumo Introdução: O nariz torto ou o nariz com desvio é um nariz com um desvio da posição vertical reta da face. A pneumatização extensa da concha média, também chamada de concha bolhosa ou concha média bolhosa (CMB), é conhecida por ser um dos possíveis fatores etiológicos da obstrução nasal, sinusite recorrente e cefaleia. Não há estudo relativo a uma associação entre CMB e nariz torto. Objetivo: Investigar a associação entre o nariz torto e a presença de CMB. Método: Foram analisados retrospectivamente 199 pacientes que se submeteram a septorrinoplastia aberta. Achados pré-operatórios paranasais à tomografia computadorizada (TC), fotodocumentação pré-operatória e exame rinoscópico anterior foram registrados. Dos 199 pacientes, observou-se que 169 atendiam aos critérios e foram incluídos no estudo. As TC foram examinadas para observar a presença de CMB, hipertrofia de conchas inferiores e desvio de septo (DS). Os DS e narizes tortos foram então classificados. Resultados: Dos 169 pacientes, 94 (56%) apresentavam uma deformidade de nariz e 75 (44%) apresentavam nariz reto. Enquanto 49 (52%) pacientes com nariz torto tinham CMB extensa, 20 pacientes com nariz reto (26,6%) tinham CMB. Uma relação estatisticamente significativa foi encontrada entre a presença de nariz torto e CMB, independentemente do lado da doença (p = 0,011). Conclusão: Este estudo revelou uma relação entre o nariz torto e CMB.

Medially displaced common and internal carotid arteries presenting as a pulsatile mass: Clinicoradiologic analysis of 62 cases.

We conducted a prospective study to analyze the medially displaced courses of the common carotid artery (CCA) and the cervical segment of the internal carotid artery (ICA) in patients who were diagnosed with a pulsatile mass on nasopharyngolaryngoscopy and by clinicoradiologic findings. Our study group was made up of 62 patients-40 women and 22 men, aged 30 to 88 years (mean: 63.7)-who presented with a submucosal pseudomass or a bulging mass on the pharyngeal wall with obvious pulsation. For comparison purposes, we recruited a control group of 62 consecutively presenting patients who had been admitted to our Neurology Department with acute severe headache and who had undergone CT angiography based on a suspicion of an aneurysm or a vertebral or carotid artery dissection. A medially displaced carotid artery was identified in all patients in the study group. Two main course abnormalities were observed: (1) a pharyngeal superficial placement (PSP), consisting of a bulging or placement immediately adjacent to the naso-orohypopharyngeal lumen, and (2) a retropharyngeal midline placement (RMP), which entailed medialization of the carotid arteries to the midline. A PSP was observed in 11 patients, an RMP was found in 17 patients, and both were seen in 34 patients. The distance from the aberrant carotid artery to the pharyngeal wall and to the retropharyngeal midline of the retropharynx was measured at four levels: nasopharyngeal, retropalatal, retroglossal, and retroepiglottic in both groups. The mean distance was significantly shorter in the study group than in the control group at all four levels (p < 0.002). We conclude that the most likely diagnosis of a pulsatile mass detected on nasopharyngolaryngoscopy is an aberrant CCA or cervical ICA.

Evaluation of effects of anterior palatoplasty operation on upper airway parameters in computed tomography in patients with pure snoring and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

AIM: To investigate changes in upper airway volume parameters measured by computerized tomography scans in patients with surgically treated by anterior palatoplasty of whom having pure snoring and mild-moderate obstructive sleep apnea. METHOD: A prospective study on consecutively anterior palatoplasty performed pure snoring and obstructive sleep apnea patients. Computerized tomography scans were obtained preoperatively and following anterior palatoplasty procedure to measure changes in upper airway volume. Patients underwent diagnostic drug induced sleep endoscopy to assess the site of obstruction. Preoperative and postoperative measurements were compared using student's t test and Chi-square test. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients (16 men and 6 women, age 48.22 ± 9.23, body mass index 25.85 ± 2.57) completed the trial. Anterior palatoplasty was associated with an increase in total upper airway volume from 4.81 ± 1.73 cm3 before treatment to 6.57 ± 2.03 cm3 after treatment (p < 0.005). Change in soft palate thickness did not vary significantly (p < 0.039). The mean soft palate length has changed from 4.13 ± 0.41 to 3.93 ± 0.51 cm (p < 0.001). The preoperative and postoperative measurements of cross-sectional areas and volumes all showed significant difference except velopharynx minimal lateral airway dimension. The operational procedure increased the total upper airway volume much more in men than in women (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Results of this study indicate that anterior palatoplasty operation appears to produce significant increase in upper airway volume and cross sectional area. It does not seem to have an effect on lateral airway dimension. Computerized tomography is a quick and noninvasive imaging technique that allows for quantitative assessment of the velopharyngeal patency changes.

An often neglected area in crooked nose: middle turbinate pneumatization.

INTRODUCTION: Crooked or deviated nose is a deviation of the nose from the straight vertical position of the face. Extensive pneumatization of the middle turbinate, also called concha bullosa or bullous middle turbinate (BMT) is known to be one of the possible etiologic factors in nasal obstruction, recurrent sinusitis, and headache. There is no study concerning a link between BMT and crooked nose. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between crooked nose and the presence of a BMT. METHODS: A total of 199 patients who underwent open septorhinoplasty were retrospectively analyzed. Preoperative paranasal Computerized Tomography (CT) findings, preoperative photodocumentation, and anterior rhinoscopic examination findings were documented. Of the 199 patients, 169 were found to meet the criteria and were included in the study. CT scans were examined to note the presence of BMT, inferior turbinate hypertrophy, and septum deviation (SD). SDs and crooked noses were classified. RESULTS: Ninety-four of 169 patients (56%) presented a crooked nose deformity and seventy-five of 169 patients (44%) presented a straight nose. While 49 (52%) crooked nose patients had a bulbous and extensive BMT, 20 patients with straight nose (26.6%) had a BMT. A statistically significant relationship was found between the presence of crooked nose and BMT, regardless of the side of the disease (p=0.011). CONCLUSION: This study revealed a link between crooked nose and BMT.

Optimal time for intranasal splint removal after septoplasty: a prospective clinical study.

To investigate the effect of intranasal splint removal time on patient comfort and possible complications after septoplasty. One hundred and nine patients who had septoplasty operations were included in this study. The patients were divided into three groups. In the 1st group (n = 36), splints were removed on the 3rd day after septoplasty; in the 2nd group (n = 36), splints were removed on the 5th day; and in the 3rd group (n = 37), splints were removed on the 7th day. Pain and nasal fullness were evaluated with visual analog scale. Synechia, perforation, hematoma, infection and hemorrhage were recorded after the removal of the splints (postoperative 1, 8 and 24 weeks). For the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd groups, respectively, pain score was 1.96, 2.67, and 2.67; and nasal fullness score was 6.23, 6.04, and 5.48. Nasal synechia was detected in two patients in the 1st group and in one patient in the 2nd group. Early hemorrhage was detected in two patients in the 1st group and one patient in the 3rd group. Infection, septal perforation and hematoma were detected in three patients in the 1st group. There was no difference in hemorrhage, hematoma, synechia and perforation rates between the three groups. There are various opinions in the literature about the ideal removal time of intranasal tampons after septoplasty, but there is no consensus on this topic. Our study shows that removal time of intranasal splints has no effect on patient comfort or possible complications.

Effect of transtympanic betamethasone delivery to the inner ear.

To investigate the effect of transtympanic betamethasone administration on hearing function with histologic correlation, rats were divided into three transtympanic treatment groups: isotonic saline (group I, n = 10), gentamicin (group II, n = 10) and betamethasone (group III, n = 10). Distortion product otoacoustic emission thresholds were compared on day 10. Also histological effects on cellular apoptosis in both the inner and outer hair cells in organ of Corti and spiral ganglion neurons were evaluated. Distortion product otoacoustic emission thresholds were comparable (p > 0.05) between group I and group III in all measurements. Distortion product otoacoustic emission thresholds of group II were significantly elevated in all measurements when compared with group I (p < 0.05) and group III (p < 0.05). In the Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP Nick End Labelling (TUNEL), Caspase-3, Caspase-8 and Caspase-9 staining method the amount of apoptotic cells in group II were significantly elevated in all measurements compared with group I (p < 0.05). In the TUNEL staining method the amount of apoptotic cells in Group III were significantly elevated compared with group I in both the organ of Corti and spiral ganglion neurons (p < 0.05). The overall histological results revealed that the severity of cellular apoptosis caused by betamethasone was somewhere between isotonic saline and gentamicin. Transtympanic betamethasone does not affect inner ear function as measured by distortion product otoacoustic emission responses, but some increase in cellular apoptosis in the organ of Corti and spiral ganglion neurons was observed. These findings suggest that transtympanic betamethasone may have mild ototoxic effects. Further studies are needed to obtain precise results for transtympanic application of betamethasone.

A Different Cartilage Graft Technique: Perichondrium-Preserved Palisade Island Graft in Tympanoplasty.

Various graft materials have been used since tympanoplasty technique was first described. In this study, the authors aimed to share our modified island cartilage graft technique.A total of 47 ears of 46 patients on whom tympanoplasty or tympanomastoidectomy operation was performed in our clinic because of chronic otitis media were included in the study.Mean preoperative air-bone gap of the patients was 32.25 ± 11.85 dB and mean postoperative air-bone gap was 19.25 ± 10.46 dB. The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001). When all the patients were evaluated, preoperative and postoperative air conduction pure tone audiometry values were 43.38 ± 14.74 dB and 32.61 ± 15.62 dB, respectively. The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Graft success rate in terms of perforation closure was found to be 44/47 (93.61%).Our modified island cartilage graft technique is easy to apply and its graft success rate and hearing results are good.

[Mean platelet volume play a role in disease severity in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome?]. / Tikayici uyku apne sendromunda ortalama trombosit hacminin hastalik siddetinde rolü var midir?

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to show the effects of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment on platelet activation in patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-six patients (29 males, 17 females; mean age 48.2±7.6 years; range 40 to 56 years) with severe OSAS with apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) ≥30 were included in this study. Complete blood counts were analyzed and mean platelet volume (MPV) values were compared in patients before and after CPAP treatment at six months. RESULTS: The mean MPV values before CPAP were 8.9±1.3 (p<0.001), while the mean values were 7.7±1.1 (p<0.001) at six months after CPAP treatment in patients with severe OSAS. There was a statistically significant decrease in the MPV values after CPAP treatment. Patients' number of platelets which was measured six months after the CPAP treatment increased at a significant level compared to baseline (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Continuous positive airway pressure treatment caused a significant decrease in the MPV values in patients with severe OSAS. As a negative acute phase reactant, MPV can be used as a marker to exert the cardioprotective effect of CPAP.