Combined nasal and palatal surgeries for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea and hypopnea syndrome

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the preoperative Apnea/Hypopnea Index (AHI) as a surgical indication for patients undergoing combined septoplasty, turbinectomy and uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPFP) surgery at an otorhinolaryngology hospital in the interior of São Paulo and the complications of this procedure. surgical. Methods: Descriptive observational study, carried out through analysis of 200 medical records from the hospital, between 2015 and 2020. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee. Results: There was a predominance in the sample of men aged 30 years, with severe AHI (>30). 12.06% of patients had normal AHI (primary snoring), 24.13% mild, 20.68% moderate and 43.13% severe. Complications affected 6.89% of the patients, divided into nosebleeds (0.86%), pharyngeal bleeding (0.86%), septal hematomas (0.86%) and alteration of pharyngeal sensitivity with foreign body sensation (4.31%). Only 2% of complications needed to be re-approached in the operating room and there were no deaths. Conclusion: It is concluded that combined nasal and palatal surgery is safe, with few complications, but its predominant indication in patients with severe AHI does not agree with the analyzed literature, so more studies are needed to have a reliable assessment of other factors that influence surgical indications.