Role of sleep endoscopy in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

AimThere are limited data about the role of sleep endoscopy in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). The aim of this study was to evaluate the level, degree and shape of obstruction of the upper airway in patients with OSAS by sleep endoscopy and their relation to OSAS severity.Patients and methodsFifty consecutive patients with OSAS were prospectively enrolled in this cross sectional analytic study. All patients underwent history, a full night-attended polysomnography and sleep endoscopy. The degree of pharyngeal narrowing (grades I–IV) was evaluated at retropalatal, retroglossal and hypopharyngeal levels. Shape of pharyngeal collapse was classified into circular, lateral or antero-posterior at retropalatal and retroglossal levels. Shape of the epiglottis was also observed.ResultsAll patients showed multisegmental levels of obstruction. Moderate OSAS had a higher percentage of grade II obstruction but a lower percentage of grade I at hypopharyngeal level compared to mild OSAS (P < 0.05). Also, in moderate OSAS, tongue base obstruction was 47.4% which was significantly higher comparing to mild OSAS (16.7%) (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between different grades of obstruction at all anatomical levels in polysomnographic parameters. Omega shaped epiglottis was associated with the highest apnea hypopnea index, desaturation index, lowest average and minimum O2 level.ConclusionSleep endoscopy is a useful tool for the assessment of level, degree and shape of the upper airway obstruction during sleep in OSAS and this could be helpful in preoperative evaluation. Presence of obstruction at hypopharyngeal level or tongue base obstruction is an indicator of OSAS severity.