Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-7cvxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T21:40:44.785Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Adult obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome and tonsillectomy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

D. J. Houghton ,
A. E. Camilleri  and
P. Stone
D. J. Houghton*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, University Hospital of South Manchester, NHS Trust, Manchester, UK.
A. E. Camilleri
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, University Hospital of South Manchester, NHS Trust, Manchester, UK.
P. Stone
Affiliation:
Department of the Regional Sleep Laboratory, University Hospital of South Manchester, NHS Trust, Manchester, UK.
*
Address for correspondence: Mr D. J. Houghton, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Prescot Street, Liverpool, L69 3BX.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

A surgical cure for adult obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) is an attractive alternative to nasal continuous positive airway pressure, but current research suggests that uvulopalatopharyngoplasty is not effective in all patients. No subgroup of these patients, who might benefit from surgery to the oropharynx, has as yet been identified. In this study we examined the results of tonsillectomy either as an isolated procedure or as part of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty in seven patients, who had tonsillomegaly. In all seven there was a short-term improvement between the pre-operative and post-operative apnoea/hypoapnoea (A/H) index (100-65 per cent), which could not be accounted for by change in the body mass index (BMI). In one patient a diagnosis of Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was made from histological examination of the tonsils. The results suggest that adult patients with tonsillomegaly may represent a subgroup of patients with OSAS, who would benefit from surgery aimed at the oropharynx.

Keywords

Sleep apnoea syndromeApnoea, obstructiveTonsifiectomy
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 111 , Issue 9 , September 1997 , pp. 829 - 832
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1997

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Conway, W., Fujita, S., Zorick, F., Sicklesteel, J., Roehrs, T., Wittig, R., Roth, T. (1985) Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty: one year follow-up. Chest 88(3): 385–387.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Croft, C. B., Brockbank, M. J., Wright, A., Swanston, A. R. (1990) Obstructive sleep apnoea in children undergoing routine tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. Clinical Otolaryngology 15: 307–314.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Croft, C. B., Golding-Wood, D. G. (1990) Uses and complications of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty. Journal of Laryngology and Otology 104: 871–875.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fujita, S., Conway, W., Zorick, F. (1985) Evaluation of the effectiveness of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty. Laryngoscope 95: 70–74.Google ScholarPubMed
Menashe, U. D. (1965) Hyperventilation and cor pulmonale due to chronic airway obstruction. Journal of Pediatrics 67: 198–263.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Noonan, J. A. (1965) Reversible cor pulmonale due to hypertrophied tonsils and adenoids. Circulation 32: 164.Google Scholar
Sharp, J. F., Jalaludin, M., Murray, J. A. M., Maran, A. G. D. (1990) The uvulopalatopharyngoplasty operation: the Edinburgh experience. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine 83: 569–570.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Shoa-Jung, L., Shyne-Yih, C., Guang-Ming, S. (1995) Comparison between short-term and long-term post-operative evaluation of sleep apnoea after uvulopalatopharyngoplasty. Journal of Laryngology and Otology 109: 308–312.Google Scholar
Walker, E. B., Frith, R. W., Harding, D. A., Cant, B. R. (1989) Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty in severe idiopathic obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome. Thorax 44: 205–208.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Woodhead, C. J., Davies, J. E., Allen, M. B. (1991) Obstructive sleep apnoea in adults presenting with snoring. Clinical Otolaryngology 16: 401–405.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Zucconi, M., Fermi Strambi, L., Pestalozza, G., Tessitore, E., Smirne, S. (1993) Habitual snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome in children: effects of early surgery. Journal of Pediatric Otolaryngology 26: 235–243.CrossRefGoogle Scholar