The effect of obstructive sleep apnea surgery on laryngopharyngeal reflux with obstructive sleep apnea

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may play a role in the occurrence of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). OSA surgery also may have a significant curative effect on LPR with OSA.Objectives: To analyze the role of OSA in LPR and the effect of OSA surgery on LPR with OSA.Methods: Forty-five OSA patients with LPR symptoms were enrolled and were divided into the LPR positive group (RSI > 13) and the LPR suspicious group (1 ≤ RSI ≤ 13) based on reflux symptom index (RSI). All the patients underwent OSA surgery. The RSI scores at three different time points postoperatively were compared with that preoperatively.Results: In the LPR positive and LPR suspicious group, the result revealed that there were significant differences in RSI score between one month, three months, six months after surgery and before surgery (p < .001 for all). Moreover, in the LPR positive group, there was a significant difference in RSI score among one month, three months and six months after surgery (p = .01).Conclusions and significance: The effect of OSA on LPR exists and OSA surgery can improve the symptoms of LPR with OSA obviously. For some LPR patients with OSA, the combination therapy of OSA and LPR is needed.