Eustachian Tube Function Symptoms in Palatal Surgeries for OSA: 3-Month Postoperative Analysis

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Sleep Medicine
• Surgical Innovation

Background:

• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common disorder often treated with surgery.
• Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) can be a consequence or comorbidity of OSA.
• Palatal surgeries aim to improve OSA but may affect ETD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of distinct soft palate surgical techniques on eustachian tube function in OSA patients.
• To identify factors influencing eustachian tube function post-palatal surgery for OSA.

Main Methods:

• Prospective cohort study of 96 OSA patients undergoing anterior palatoplasty (AP), expansion sphincter palatoplasty (ESP), or barbed palatoplasty (BP).
• Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire (ETDQ-7) assessed at baseline and 1, 2, and 3 months post-surgery.
• Analysis included repeated measures ANOVA and subgroup analysis based on OSA severity.

Main Results:

• All ETDQ-7 scores improved significantly over time (p < 0.001).
• No significant differences in ETDQ-7 scores were observed between surgical groups overall (p = 0.109).
• A significant interaction between time and OSA severity was noted for 3-month ETDQ-7 changes (p = 0.046); Barbed Palatoplasty (BP) showed higher scores than Anterior Palatoplasty (AP) at 3 months.

Conclusions:

• Surgical outcomes for eustachian tube function in OSA patients vary.
• Patient-specific factors, including OSA severity, are crucial for selecting optimal palatal surgery.
• Tailoring surgical approach based on individual ETD symptoms and OSA severity may improve outcomes.