[Perioperative continuous positive airway pressure therapy for severe obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome...

(1) To investigate the severe obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) patients' perioperative variations of their polysomnographic indices, to discuss the necessity for their perioperative treatment; (2) To investigate the effects of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on severe OSAHS patients during their perioperative period.

(1) 21 cases severe OSAHS patients were selected for at least 7 days preoperative CPAP therapy, and this group of patients were also given 3 continuous nights autotitrated CPAP (AutoSet) therapy postoperatively, i.e., the first 3 nights after operation. The 21 cases were remonitored with PSG during the second night after operation with their AutoSet ON. And all the 21 cases had revised uvulopalatopharygoplasty, in which the uvula is reserved completely. All patients apnea hypopnea index(AHI), lowest SaO2 (LSaO2), and sleep structure indices were calculated. (2) Another 24 cases of severe OSAHS patients without preoperative CPAP therapy or tracheotomy were selected as the control group, all patients received polysomnography (PSG) on the second night postoperatively.

(1) 6 cases' condition of the control group got worse during the second night after operation, their LSaO2 are lower and their AHI got higher than pre-operation. For the another 18 cases, their condition got better than before operation. (2) 21 cases' AHI and LSaO2 are 61.1 +/- 9.9, 65.0% +/- 9.6% respectively before CPAP treatment, and the AHI and LSaO2 are 2.2 +/- 1.4, 94.5% +/- 2.9% during CPAP therapy. P < 0.001 (TTEST). All the 21 cases main symptoms disappeared after 1 week CPAP therapy. All 21 cases could tolerate AutoSet treatment well for the first 3 nights after operation. During the 2nd night with AutoSet therapy, the AHI and LSaO2 are 3.6 +/- 1.8 and 93.7% +/- 3.4% respectively. (3) For the 2nd night after operation, the CPAP and AutoSet treating group's AHI is lower than that of the control group, also the LSaO2 is higher, the deep and REM sleep stages are longer, and the S1, S2 sleep stages are shorter than that of the latter.

For severe OSAHS patients, the postoperative condition has the possibility of getting worse. Perioperative CPAP therapy can have OSAHS patients severe condition alleviated, so the perioperative risks could be lowered; During the first 3 postoperative nights, AutoSet can be well tolerated by severe OSAHS patients.