Surgical Treatment for Adult Patients with Sleep Apnea Syndrome.

Seven adult patients with sleep apnea syndrome (4 with the obstructive type and 3 with the mixed type) were treated surgically; septoplasty plus conchotomy in two, tonsillectomy in one and uvulopalatopharyngoplasty in four. We then evaluated the clinical symptoms of snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness and night sleeplessness, in addition to the apnea index (AI) and apnea time/sleep time (AT/ST). Snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness were reduced in six of the seven patients and night sleeplessness in four of the five patients. AI improved in five of the seven patients and AI/ST in six. Two patients expressed great satisfaction with their subjective improvement, and three were fairly well satisfied. One patient noted no change, and one was dissatisfied with the results. We found that the degree of satisfaction noted by the patients was not proportional to the quantitative improvement in AI and AI/ST. The degree of satisfaction reflected qualitative improvement related to a reduction in snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness and night sleeplessness.