Surgery for sleep apnea. Long-term results

Upper airway surgery is an effective treatment for OSA, improving both subjective and objective parameters that define the condition. However, the long-term stability of this improvement remains unclear.

An ambispective observational study was conducted using data from the Dr. Peset Hospital (Valencia, Spain) on patients who underwent palatal surgery using modern pharyngoplasty techniques between 2015 and 2023. A total of 83 patients were included, with follow-ups conducted at a mean of 7, 35, 51, 68, and 85 months post-surgery. Objective and subjective parameters were analyzed.

Significant improvements were observed in AHI (from 38.82 ± 21.26 to 16.30 ± 16.60), ODI (from 40.71 ± 21.18 to 16.93 ± 18.02), T90 (from 16,31 ± 22.58 to 6.68 ± 10.50), and minimum oxygen saturation (from 76.14 ± 13.54 to 84.52 ± 7.74), as well as in subjective measures, following surgery. At the third follow-up, at a mean of approximately 4.2 years, the AHI was 15.30 ± 11.00, the ODI was 14.30 ± 12.02, the T90 was 8.51 ± 16.99, and the minimum oxygen saturation was 84.66 ± 6.84. These improvements persisted over time, although there is slight worsening in some cases.

Sleep surgery is effective in reducing OSA-related parameters and improving quality of life. Long-term follow-up indicates that these benefits are largely maintained, with minor variations over time. These findings support surgery as stable treatment for OSA, highlighting the importance of individualized surgical approaches and postoperative monitoring.