<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><bold>BACKGROUND.</bold> Nasal obstruction may trigger obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and it is considered to be a cofactor in its pathophysiology. However, the relation between cause and effect still remains a matter of debate.<bold>MATERIAL AND METHODS.</bold> 18 patients diagnosed with chronic hypertrophic rhinitis and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome were included in the present study. All patients underwent nasal surgery as the single treatment for their sleep breathing disorders. Rhinomanometric (total nasal airflow, logReff, logVR) and polygraphic parameters (apnea-hypopnea index - AHI, snore flags index – SFI) were evaluated pre- and 2 months postoperatively.<bold>RESULTS.</bold> There was a statistically significant difference between the values of the preoperative and postoperative total nasal airflow (p-value&lt;0.0001). In case of AHI, there was a decrease in its value from 31.56 preoperatively to 30.03 postoperatively, but the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.937). The SFI, on the other hand, presented a significant decrease (p=0.05), from a mean value of 93.15 preoperatively to 56.02 after the surgery. The correlation of the total nasal airflow with AHI and SFI, revealed that nasal surgery had an important impact upon snoring characteristics (r=0.24) and less upon OSAS severity (r=0.21).<bold>CONCLUSION.</bold> The nasal cavity obstruction contributes less to OSAS, but still represents a disorder that needs to be corrected in case of such patients. Turbinates reduction surgery may be applied in the treatment of OSAS and combined with palate and/or tongue surgery.</abstract>

BACKGROUND. Nasal obstruction may trigger obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and it is considered to be a cofactor in its pathophysiology. However, the relation between cause and effect still remains a matter of debate.MATERIAL AND METHODS. 18 patients diagnosed with chronic hypertrophic rhinitis and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome were included in the present study. All patients underwent nasal surgery as the single treatment for their sleep breathing disorders. Rhinomanometric (total nasal airflow, logReff, logVR) and polygraphic parameters (apnea-hypopnea index - AHI, snore flags index – SFI) were evaluated pre- and 2 months postoperatively.RESULTS. There was a statistically significant difference between the values of the preoperative and postoperative total nasal airflow (p-value<0.0001). In case of AHI, there was a decrease in its value from 31.56 preoperatively to 30.03 postoperatively, but the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.937). The SFI, on the other hand, presented a significant decrease (p=0.05), from a mean value of 93.15 preoperatively to 56.02 after the surgery. The correlation of the total nasal airflow with AHI and SFI, revealed that nasal surgery had an important impact upon snoring characteristics (r=0.24) and less upon OSAS severity (r=0.21).CONCLUSION. The nasal cavity obstruction contributes less to OSAS, but still represents a disorder that needs to be corrected in case of such patients. Turbinates reduction surgery may be applied in the treatment of OSAS and combined with palate and/or tongue surgery.

Do the turbinates play an important role in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome? – Our experience

ENT&HNS Department, “Sfanta Maria” Hospital, Bucharest, Romania

“Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania

ENT Sarafoleanu Medical Clinic, Bucharest, Romania

Romanian Journal of Rhinology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

BACKGROUND. Nasal obstruction may trigger obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and it is considered to be a cofactor in its pathophysiology. However, the...

Do the turbinates play an important role in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome? – Our experience

Published Online: May 09, 2016

Page range: 93 - 98

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/rjr-2016-0011

Keywords
obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, nasal resistance, turbinates reduction, respiratory polygraphy

© 2016 Nicoleta Dumitrescu et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Do the turbinates play an important role in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome? – Our experience

Published Online: May 09, 2016

Page range: 93 - 98

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/rjr-2016-0011

Keywordsobstructive sleep apnea syndrome, nasal resistance, turbinates reduction, respiratory polygraphy

© 2016 Nicoleta Dumitrescu et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, nasal resistance, turbinates reduction, respiratory polygraphy