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Moderate OSAS and turbinate decongestion: surgical efficacy in improving the quality of life and compliance of CPAP using Epworth score and SNOT-20 score
Abstract
Drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) is an important procedure in diagnostic pathway of patients affected by moderate OSAS. However, the Ital- ian National Health System does not provide any compatible Diagnosis-related-group (DRG) code codification for DISE, which makes it impos- sible to obtain regional reimbursement. In order to overcome this problem, DISE is usually associated with other codified surgical procedures. The aim of our study is to assess the association of turbinate decongestion (TD) and DISE in order to combine in a single operating session diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. The objective of our work is to assess the role of nasal surgery on symptoms of moderate OSA. Recent studies have confirmed that isolated nasal surgery improves quality of life (QOL), but not the apnoea hypopnoea index (AHI) during polygraph registration. We enrolled 30 patients, aged between 29 and 64 years (mean 50.53 ± 9.20), 26 males and 4 females, with a mean BMI of 26.07 ± 2.81 kg/m2, who were affected by moderate OSAS. All patients underwent otolaryngologycal pre-operative evaluation, home respiratory polygraph and subjective evaluation through Sino-Nasal-Outcome Test (SNOT-20) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). During the same surgery session, they underwent DISE and TD. Patients were re-evaluated six months later using the same questionnaires. We observed a significant improvement (p < 0.05) in both the mean ESS index (6.03 ± 2.75 vs 4.16 ± 4.63) and total SNOT score (22.53 ± 12.16 vs 13.23 ± 10.82). Significant differences (p < 0.05) were also identified for partial SNOT questions 1-11 (9.1 ± 5.11 vs 6.13 ± 4.12) and 11-20 (13.36 ± 10.20 vs 7.13 ± 9.644). The results of the present study confirm that TD alone can improve sleepiness, QOL and nasal symptoms. Thus, in absence of a National Health System recognition for DISE, the association of this procedure with TD can be useful for diagnostic and therapeutic management of OSAS, improving CPAP compliance and adherence, reducing sleepiness, ameliorating nasal symptoms and therefore QOL.
Introduction
Sleep-disordered breathing and obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) are common and increasingly important conditions in modern society. OSAS can influence general health status, occupational and family management. It can affect both cardiovascular and neurological systems. OSAS arises from obstruction of the upper airway during sleep at multiple levels, such as nasal cavity, pharyngeal cavity, and retroglottic and glottis regions. Among these, the nasal cavity accounts for 1/2 to 2/3 of general airway resistance. Nasal obstruction can result from multiple causes, including mucosal inflammation and structural abnormalities, such as septal deviation, nasal valve compromise and turbinate hypertrophy. The prevalence of OSAS is estimated to range from 3.1% to 7.5% in the adult male population. Diagnosis of OSA usually requires overnight polysomnography (PSG) to detect the frequency of apneic and hypopnoeic events. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is currently considered the gold standard for treatment of OSA.
Drug-induced sleep/sedation endoscopy (DISE), first described by Croft and Pringle in 1991 1, enables exploration of upper airways during induced sleep. It is relatively quick and simple, targeting possible obstruction sites. A recent review by Blumen et al. 2 3 discusses the role of DISE as gold standard in diagnosis of OSAS, but this role is not yet well codified.
However, although DISE certainly has an important role in the diagnostic pathway of patients affected by moderate OSAS 4, at present the Italian National Health System does not provide any compatible Diagnosis-Related-Group (DRG) code codification. In order to overcome this economic and organisational problem, DISE can be associated can be associated with well codified surgical nasal procedures and refunded by the Regions.
Regarding the role of nasal surgery in OSAS, a recent meta-analysis by Wu et al. 5 pointed out that surgery on the nose can significantly improve the quality of life in patients affected by OSAS, especially those with nasal obstruction. The authors concluded that both apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) (Fig. 1) significantly improve after isolated nasal surgery, but the improvement of AHI is slightly significant.
Moreover, other studies have evaluated the effect of nasal surgery on CPAP. Camacho et al. 6 conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the effects of isolated nasal surgery on therapeutic CPAP device pressures and use in adults with OSA. The authors demonstrated that isolated nasal surgery in patients with OSAS with nasal obstruction reduces therapeutic CPAP device pressures and also increases use of.CPAP in selected patients. Ishii et al also investigated if nasal surgery can improve OSAS in patients with nasal obstruction and OSAS. They showed that isolated nasal surgery in these patients led to significant improvements in ESS and Respiratory Disturbance Index (RDI), but no significant improvements in AHI. One bias of these reviews and related papers is related to the absence of a specific analysis of the different nasal surgical approaches, and especially for turbinate decongestion.
It has been demonstrated by Powell et al. 8 that nasal surgery synergises the effects of CPAP treatment, but the majority of studies that involve the nasal district focus on nose surgery, combining various approaches without separately analysing the impact of septal surgery and turbinate decongestion 9.
Finally, regarding costs, Kempfle et al. 10 evaluated the cost-effectiveness of two types of nasal surgery versus no surgery in patients with OSA and nasal obstruction undergoing CPAP. The authors followed the contributor citizen viewpoint, comparing the cost of untreated OSAS patients, cost and complications of surgery and annual cost of CPAP. They concluded that the cost-effectiveness of nasal surgery is in improving CPAP compliance in the OSAS population with nasal obstruction, indicating the value of surgical intervention for non-adherent CPAP users or partially adherent users, as part of a multifaceted approach to improving overall compliance.
We currently associate turbinate decongestion with DISE, considering that the nasal cavities can affect the pathophysiology of OSAS in multiple ways 11 providing a stable airway while oral cavity and larynx collapse 12.
On the basis of these scientific studies of the literature and Italian and non-Italian economic considerations, the aim of this study is to assess the benefits of associating TD and DISE in ameliorating the diagnostic and therapeutic tools of OSAS, and in improving quality of life (QOL), sleepiness and nasal symptoms.
Materials and methods
We enrolled 30 patients, aged between 29 and 64 years (mean 50.53 ± 9.20), 26 males and 4 females, with a mean BMI of 26.07 ± 2.81 kg/m2, admitted to the Department of Head and Neck Surgery “A. Gemelli Hospital” Catholic University School of Medicine and Surgery in Rome. Patients were affected by moderate OSAS 15 #x003C; AHI #x003C; 30 events/h (mean AHI 21.04 events/h DS: ± 4.79 considering a 3% dip of saturation) diagnosed with polysomnography. They underwent DISE and turbinate decongestion during the same session. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Catholic University School of Medicine and Surgery in Rome. All patients were willing to participate and consented to their inclusion with formal written consent when recruited.
We performed a longitudinal prospective evaluation of our patients.
Inclusion criteria were: age > 18 y, moderate OSAS (15 #x003C; AHI #x003C; 30) and nasal obstructive symptoms that compromised QOL. Exclusion criteria were: previous upper airways surgery and weight loss > 10% body weight between surgery and follow-up, since it has been demonstrated that weight loss inferior to 10% of total body weight has no polysomnographic effects on moderate OSAS patients 13.
All patients underwent pre-operative otolaryngological evaluation including fibre optic nasopharyngoscopy with Muller’s maneuver, home respiratory polygraph (Somntè Recording Unit©, Somntè Compumedics, Australia). Subjective evaluation was obtained using the Italian translation of strongly validated questionnaires,, namely the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-20) 14 15 (Fig. 2) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) 7 (Fig. 1).
During the same surgical session, all patients underwent DISE with the presence of an anaesthesiologist, neuroelectrophysiology technician and ENT specialist. Patients, already prepared for polygraphic intraoperative recording, received drug sedation. For drug sedation, we used an increasing dose of propofol (3 mg/kg/h) until continuous BiSpectral Index (BIS) monitoring by Aspect A-2000 BIS monitor© (Apect Medical Systems, Natick, MA), was between 45-65. During snoring, we introduced flexible nasopharyngoscope trough the nasal cavity evaluating the pattern and degree of obstruction (nasopharynx, oropharynx, hypopharynx and larynx) and continuously monitored sleep with a polygraph (Somntè Compumedics System©, Somntè Compumedics, Australia). We also performed a bimanual pull-up mandibular advancement manoeuvre, advancing from 4 to 5 mm 16 17, evaluating masseter muscle activation 18 and visualising the effect on airway obstruction.
After these procedures, starting ventilation using a cuffed laryngeal mask, we performed TD with a quantic molecular resonance scalpel (Teleamedical ENT Quantum Bipolar Scalpel).
Patients were re-evaluated at six months after surgical procedures and the SNOT-20 and ESS questionnaires were administered.
Data obtained by SNOT and ESS are expressed as mean ± standard deviation (SD). We compared the means of ESS results, total SNOT score and sums of questions 1-10 and 11-20 as representative of nasal symptoms and QOL, respectively.
Statistical analysis of data was performed using Microsoft EXCEL and IBM SPSS 24 software packages, comparing the means with T-test for paired samples. Data were considered positive if there was a decrease in SNOT and ESS scores after treatment. Differences were considered statistically significant if the p value was less than 0.05.
Results
Table I shows the results of ESS, total SNOT scores and partial SNOT scores for each patient.
We observed a significant improvement (p #x003C; 0.05) in both the ESS medium index (6.03 ± 2.75 vs 4.16 ± 4.63; Fig. 3) and in the total SNOT score (22.53 ± 12.16 vs 13.23 ± 10.82; Fig. 4). A significant difference (p #x003C; 0.05) was also identified for partial SNOT questions 1-11 (9.1 ± 5.11 vs 6.13 ± 4.12) and 11-20 (13.36 ± 10.20 vs 7.13 ± 9.644; Fig. 4).
No patient had any complications related to DISE, and only two patients (6.67%) presented intra-operative epistaxis that required nasal swab during TD.
Discussion
The results of the present study confirm that TD alone can improve sleepiness, QOL and nasal symptoms. We used well-known and validated questionnaires, which implies subjective assessment by patients. However, subjective data can be considered reliable, and the clinical correlation between SNOT score, ESS index and OSAS has already been described 19 20.
Sleepiness score can be considered the better index of OSAS outcomes. In the present study, it was reduced by 68.9%, with an absolute score of 1.87 points. The importance of TD in the amelioration of disability OSAS-related is also evident. In agreement with literature data, we can confirm that resolution of nasal obstruction generally alleviates daytime sleepiness in OSAS patients 20 21, even if it has little effect on AHI 22.
We showed a significant modification of total SNOT score, which was reduced by 9.3 (58.7%). Moreover, evaluation of the partial SNOT score also showed a significant improvement. In particular, questions 11-20 investigate nasal obstruction related symptoms such as fatigue, sleepiness, lack of concentration and emotional burden; we highlight that the score decreased by 6.2 (53.3%). Questions 1-10 examine nasal symptoms, and showed were reduced by 3 (67.3%). This high percentage confirms that nasal symptoms ameliorate after TD, as stated by the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head And Neck Surgery 23.
Moreover, the QOL can be considered to be a very significant aspect in management of OSAS patients, and comprises symptoms such as daytime sleepiness, fatigue, reduction in concentration and productivity, irritability and snoring that could cast away sleeping partners. Excessive daytime sleepiness is one of the principal symptoms in patients with OSAS causing reduced productivity, accidents, and errors in professional life are a serious social concern; worsening QOL thus deserves attention by the physician. Our results further confirm the efficacy of TD in improving the QOL.
Assuming that nasal obstruction could be due to turbinate hypertrophy, septal deviation, nasal polyps, rhinosinusitis, neoplasm of nasal cavity and nasal valve collapse, we can argue that it is responsible not only for nasal symptoms, but also for extra nasal symptoms such as fatigue, sleep disturbances, headache and daytime sleepiness, and for this reason it causes a decline in QOL 9 23. In OSAS patients, nasal resistance is frequently high and varies with body position: it increases in the supine position, compared with the upright position, and is due to an increase in nasal blood flow and reduction of the retropalatal space 11.
Finally, considering the aetiology of chronic nasal obstruction, it cannot be resolved by medical therapy alone, often requiring surgical treatment.
We conclude that given the relative safety 24 of turbinate decongestion, its acknowledged good cost/efficacy ratio in supporting CPAP therapy and the beneficial effects on QOL and sleepiness we found, TD can be considered too important in the management of all patients with OSAS and nasal obstruction.
Another final matter that supports our recommendation is the good cost/efficacy ratio of TD and the short timespan (5 years) for good effects, compared to septal correction that performs the best results in 10-15 years, and improvement of CPAP compliance 10.
Conclusions
Our results suggest that in the absence of a National Health System recognition for DISE, the association of this procedure with TD can be useful not only for diagnostic purposes, but also for suitable management of OSAS, improving the CPAP compliance and adherence, reducing the sleepiness, ameliorating the nasal symptoms, and therefore QOL.
Moreover, at the cost of only one day surgery and one anaesthesiological procedure, we associated an endoscopic diagnostic procedure with surgical treatment.
Finally, teams managing patients with snoring and sleep apnoea should continue their investigations in order to determine whether DISE is fundamental for guiding good medical practice, and to render DISE a more widespread procedure that is useful in OSAS beyond economic considerations alone.
Figures and tables
Fig. 1.Epworth Sleepiness Scale (Vignatelli L, et al., 2003 7).
Fig. 2.SNOT-20 questionnaire (Mozzanica F, et al., 2017 15).
Fig. 3.Epworth score distribution at baseline and after six months after turbinate decongestion. The box plots show the median and inter-quartile range and the error bars show the 5th and 95th percentiles.
Fig. 4.SNOT-20 score distribution at baseline and after six months from turbinates’ decongestion. From left to right: Total Score, Question 1-10 Score, Questions 11-20 Score. The box plots show the median and inter-quartile range and the error bars show the 5th and 95th percentiles.
| ID | EpworthPre | EpworthPost | TotalSnotPre | TotalSnotPost | 1-10 SnotPre | 1-10 SnotPost | 11-20 SnotPre | 11-20 SnotPost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8.00 | 4.00 | 54.00 | 11.00 | 16.00 | 7.00 | 38.00 | 4.00 |
| 2 | 4.00 | 0.00 | 32.00 | 0.00 | 18.00 | 0.00 | 14.00 | 0.00 |
| 3 | 4.00 | 4.00 | 17.00 | 15.00 | 11.00 | 14.00 | 6.00 | 1.00 |
| 4 | 6.00 | 4.00 | 20.00 | 18.00 | 15.00 | 7.00 | 5.00 | 11.00 |
| 5 | 5.00 | 3.00 | 20.00 | 11.00 | 12.00 | 9.00 | 8.00 | 2.00 |
| 6 | 6.00 | 19.00 | 19.00 | 37.00 | 7.00 | 9.00 | 12.00 | 28.00 |
| 7 | 3.00 | 0.00 | 21.00 | 10.00 | 10.00 | 10.00 | 11.00 | 0.00 |
| 8 | 7.00 | 3.00 | 17.00 | 9.00 | 9.00 | 9.00 | 8.00 | 0.00 |
| 9 | 3.00 | 0.00 | 4.00 | 0.00 | 2.00 | 0.00 | 2.00 | 0.00 |
| 10 | 6.00 | 6.00 | 46.00 | 29.00 | 8.00 | 5.00 | 38.00 | 24.00 |
| 11 | 6.00 | 8.00 | 17.00 | 19.00 | 7.00 | 9.00 | 10.00 | 10.00 |
| 12 | 9.00 | 8.00 | 18.00 | 23.00 | 1.00 | 2.00 | 17.00 | 21.00 |
| 13 | 13.00 | 3.00 | 26.00 | 2.00 | 5.00 | 2.00 | 21.00 | 0.00 |
| 14 | 10.00 | 4.00 | 23.00 | 25.00 | 3.00 | 4.00 | 20.00 | 21.00 |
| 15 | 12.00 | 2.00 | 44.00 | 1.00 | 20.00 | 1.00 | 24.00 | 0.00 |
| 16 | 3.00 | 3.00 | 5.00 | 9.00 | 2.00 | 7.00 | 3.00 | 2.00 |
| 17 | 8.00 | 1.00 | 15.00 | 5.00 | 11.00 | 5.00 | 4.00 | 0.00 |
| 18 | 3.00 | 2.00 | 15.00 | 2.00 | 4.00 | 2.00 | 11.00 | 0,00 |
| 19 | 4.00 | 4.00 | 16.00 | 2.00 | 4.00 | 2.00 | 12.00 | 0,00 |
| 20 | 8.00 | 8.00 | 35.00 | 19.00 | 11.00 | 8.00 | 24.00 | 11,00 |
| 21 | 5.00 | 0.00 | 31.00 | 0.00 | 17.00 | 0.00 | 13.00 | 0,00 |
| 22 | 3.00 | 3.00 | 18.00 | 16.00 | 11.00 | 15.00 | 7.00 | 2,00 |
| 23 | 5.00 | 3.00 | 19.00 | 17.00 | 16.00 | 8.00 | 6.00 | 12,00 |
| 24 | 5.00 | 3.00 | 20.00 | 11.00 | 10.00 | 7.00 | 6.00 | 1,00 |
| 25 | 6.00 | 4.00 | 19.00 | 37.00 | 7.00 | 9.00 | 12.00 | 28,00 |
| 26 | 3.00 | 0.00 | 21.00 | 10.00 | 10.00 | 10.00 | 11.00 | 0,00 |
| 27 | 7.00 | 3.00 | 17.00 | 9.00 | 9.00 | 9.00 | 8.00 | 0,00 |
| 28 | 3.00 | 0.00 | 4.00 | 0.00 | 2.00 | 0.00 | 2.00 | 0,00 |
| 29 | 10.00 | 4.00 | 46.00 | 29.00 | 8.00 | 5.00 | 38.00 | 24,00 |
| 30 | 6.00 | 4.00 | 17.00 | 19.00 | 7.00 | 9.00 | 10.00 | 10,00 |
| Means and standard deviation | ||||||||
| 6.03 ± 2.75 | 4.17 ± 4.63 | 22.53 ± 12.16 | 13.16 ± 10.81 | 9.10 ± 5.11 | 6.13 ± 4.11 | 13.37 ± 10.20 | 7,07 ± 9,68 | |
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