Abstract:

To explore the role of tracheotomy in surgical management for patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). Methods The clinical data of 19 patients with tracheotomy hospitalized since 2003 were retrospectively analyzed. 8 were subjected to tracheotomy during radix linguae and/or corpus linguae partial resection, 2 were subjected to tracheotomy before general anesthesia and UPPP surgery because of obesity and short neck, 3 were subjected to tracheotomy because of difficult tracheal intubation before general anesthesia, 3 because of 3-platform operations, and 3 because of respiratory tract obstruction after tracheal extubation postoperatively in the ICU. Results16 patients were successfully subjected to UPPP and 3 patients who suffered from respiratory tract obstruction recovered after tracheotomy without severe complications. Conclusions At present with advanced facilities and techniques, tracheotomy is important and effective for OSAHS patients.

Key words:  Tracheotomy;  Sleep apnea syndrome, obstructive; Uvolopalatopharyngoplasty; Multi-platform operations