Modern methods for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with snoring and sleep apnea

Background. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and snoring as one of its symptoms are a serious disease that causes not only social discomfort, but also leads to the development of serious complications up to death. A single tactic regarding the treatment of OSAS has not yet been developed. Objective. Evaluation of the effectiveness of surgical treatment of patients with snoring and OSAS depending on the severity of the disease and the level of obstruction of the upper respiratory tract. Methods. To assess the severity of the condition, 51 patients with complaints of snoring and sleep apnea underwent nocturnal advanced respiratory monitoring. To identify the cause of obstruction, a standard examination of ENT organs was carried out, supplemented by endoscopic examination and functional tests. Surgical treatment included elimination of all the diagnosed causes of OSAS. Results. Assessment of the effectiveness of surgical treatment of OSAS was performed 1 month after surgery. Elimination of snoring was achieved in 45 (86%) patients. As regard to sleep apnea, 41 (78%) patients did not have respiratory arrest; in 7 (16%) patients the apnea/hypopnea index decreased by 50% or more, from moderate and severe to mild OSAS; surgical treatment was not effective in 2 (4%) patients. Conclusion. Surgical treatment is an effective method for treating patients with uncomplicated snoring and mild to moderate OSAS, and surgery can be one of the treatment steps for patients with severe OSAS. Control objective examination after surgery is mandatory, because it allows to evaluate the results of treatment and correct further management of a patient.

snoring, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, advanced respiratory monitoring, uvulopalatoplasty