Abstract
Objectives To evaluate the evolution of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), comparing data from preoperative,
immediate postoperative and late postoperative, in patients undergoing pharyngeal
surgery associated with nasal surgery, and to compare the findings of arterial tonometry
and type 1 polysomnography in the late postoperative period.
Methods Seventeen adults with moderate or severe OSA were included in the study. They underwent
clinical evaluation, surgical intervention, and sleep study preoperatively, on the
1st night after surgery, and after a minimum period of 3 months. The data for the three
moments were compared.
Results The mean age was 38.1 ± 12.5 years old (22 to 59 years old), and 82.3% were male.
Body mass index (BMI) ranged from 25.6 to 45.1 kg/m2 (mean = 33.1 ± 5.8 kg/m2). Fifteen patients (88.2%) were diagnosed with severe OSA. There was a progressive
improvement, with a decrease in the indexes (AHI and RDI) and in the percentage of
time with peripheral oxyhemoglobin saturation below 90% (tSpO < 90%), and an increase
in nadir of SpO2. In the comparison between the 2 methods used in the late postoperative
period – arterial tonometry and polysomnography – there was no difference in the indexes
and in the tSpO < 90%.
Discussion There was a progressive and favorable impact of pharyngeal surgery on the improvement
of polysomnographic and clinical respiratory parameters; however, many patients maintained
residual OSA, suggesting the need for a new sleep study in the postoperative period.
The arterial tonometry showed similar findings to polysomnography, which can be considered
as an option in postoperative follow-up of patients.
Keywords
sleep apnea - obstructive/surgery - postoperative period - polysomnography - adult
