Abstract:

Objective   To evaluate the effectiveness of nasal surgery  on sleep quality, architecture, position, and sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in the patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) and nasal obstruction. Methods   30 patients with OSAHS and nasal obstruction, who underwent the nasal surgery, were enrolled in the study. Polysomnographic(PSG) data and Epworth Sleepiness Scale(ESS) evaluation were performed, and the relationship  with sleep quality (sleep efficiency ［SE］ and arousal index ［ArI］), sleep architecture, the distribution of sleep positions, and SDB (apnea-hypopnea index ［AHI］, minimum arterial oxygen saturation ［LSaO2］, and snoring) before and after nasal surgery were analyzed. Results   After the nasal surgery, sleep efficiency ［from (86.4±6.4)% to (89.4±6.8)%, P＝0.043］, ESS evaluation (from 10.08±3.3 to 8.1±3.3, P=0.001) and stage R ［from (15.5±4.0)% to (18.8±4.7)%, P＝0.006］ were significantly changed, however, there was no significant change in ArI, other sleep stages, the proportion of sleep time spent in the supine position, AHI, LSaO2 or snoring. Conclusion   Nasal surgery alone is partially effective in improving sleep quality and architecture, but it shows no effect on the distribution of sleep positions, snoring and obstructive apnea in patients with OSAHS and nasal obstruction.

Key words: Sleep apnea, obstructive, Nasal obstruction, Nasal surgery