Efficacy of Velopharyngeal Surgery for Positional Obstructive Sleep Apnea Hypopnea Syndrome

Abstract

Background: Positional obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (P-OSAHS) is a distinct OSAHS type. Whether velopharyngeal surgery is efficacious for patients with P-OSAHS remains unclear. Aim/Objective: To investigate the efficacy and factors influencing velopharyngeal surgery for treatment of patients with P-OSAHS, defined as the apnea hypopnea index (AHI) in different body postures (supine AHI ≥2*nonsupine AHI). Materials and Methods: A total of 44 patients with P-OSAHS who underwent velopharyngeal surgery were retrospectively studied. The clinical data of these patients, including polysomnography (PSG), physical examination, and surgical information, were collected for analysis. All patients underwent a PSG about 6 months after surgery to determine the treatment outcomes. Results: The overall AHI of the 44 patients decreased from 40.2 ± 18.7 events/h to 18.5 ± 17.5 events/h after surgery (P