Leon Rosenthal

Midline Glossectomy and Epiglottidectomy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is caused by narrowing of the pharyngeal airway and loss of dilator tone during sleep. In patients with severe apnea surgical correction often requires attention to both the oropharynx and hypopharynx. Tongue reduction surgery has been described for persistent apnea after failure of palatal surgery. We describe our experience with midline glossectomy with epiglottidectomy in 12 patients with a mean age of 48.8 ± 14.2 years and body mass index of 36.0 ± 8.8 kg/ m2. Response to treatment was defined as a postoperative respiratory disturbance index (RDI) below 20. Three patients (25%) responded to treatment. The mean apnea index decreased from 48.9 to 35.7, RDI decreased from 73.3 to 46.6, and lowest oxygen saturation increased from 65.9 to 77.9%. RDI in responders decreased from 69.7 to 10. Midline glossectomy with epiglottidectomy has variable results, yet is effective in selected patients with hypopharyngeal narrowing related to macroglossia.

The sleep-wake activity inventory: A self-report measure of daytime sleepiness

The purpose of this study was to develop a valid multidimensional self-report measure of sleepiness. There were 554 subjects who completed the inventory. The structure of the Sleep-Wake Activity Inventory (SWAI) was derived from principal components analysis. The independent predictive strength of the factors was assessed by forward stepwise regression analysis with the average sleep latency on the Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) as the dependent variable. The scores on each of the factors were also compared by the level of sleepiness determined by the MSLT (pathological, diagnostic gray area, and normal). Factor analysis showed the existence of six factors on the SWAI (Excessive Daytime Sleepiness [EDS], Psychic Distress, Social Desirability, Energy Level, Ability to Relax and Nocturnal Sleep). The EDS factor was the best predictor of average MSLT. It was also able to differentiate pathological levels of sleepiness from both the diagnostic gray and normal levels of sleepiness. EDS factor scores were sensitive to changes in sleep physiology as improved scores followed normalization of sleep-disordered breathing. The SWAI was shown to be easy to complete, have a multi-dimensional structure, have a EDS factor useful in the prediction of average MSLT scores, be sensitive to differential levels of sleepiness, and change as a result of effective treatment.

The Epworth Sleepiness Scale in the Identification of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

The Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) is often used clinically to screen for the manifestations of the behavioral morbidity associated to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The purpose of this study was to assess the sensitivity of the ESS in the identification of OSA, as defined by an elevated apnea-hypopnea index. A retrospective chart review of 268 consecutive patients diagnosed with OSA at a multidisciplinary sleep medicine clinic was conducted. The ESS obtained a relatively low sensitivity (66%) in the identification of an apnea-hypopnea index of 5 and above at the suggested cutoff of 10 and increased to 76% at 8. The results of the study showed only fair discriminatory ability of the ESS as a screener for OSA. A score of 8 (instead of 10) is suggested as the cutoff among clinic populations being screened for a sleep disorder.

CPAP therapy in patients with mild OSA: implementation and treatment outcome.

Objectives: To determine continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment compliance and reversal of excessive daytime sleepiness in patients with mild OSA.Background: CPAP therapy is the most widely accepted and used intervention in patients with a diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). There are, however, no widely accepted protocols to help guide the rational use of CPAP therapy. Patients with mild OSA (respiratory event index (REI) >5 or </=25) represent a subset of the OSA population where CPAP implementation needs to be evaluated.Methods: This is a retrospective study of 740 consecutive patients evaluated for sleep apnea in 1996. Mild OSA was documented in 241 patients, of whom, 41 opted for CPAP therapy. Implementation of CPAP treatment included an education session and an overnight clinical polysomnography (CPSG) for titration purposes. Patients returned for follow-ups after 1 week and 1 year of CPAP use. During each appointment, compliance and response to treatment were evaluated.Results: Of the initial 41 patients nine were lost to follow-up, 16 discontinued CPAP use during the first week, and 16 were still using CPAP after 1 year. For the 16 still using CPAP after one year, hours of use the first week was correlated to hours of use the first year (r=0.81). Patients using CPAP more than 4 h/night experienced a marked improvement in daytime sleepiness after 1 year (P<0.01).Conclusions: Patients with mild OSA showed a high rate of CPAP discontinuation. Those patients who manifested good compliance during the first week of treatment continued using CPAP for the entire first year. These patients experienced improved alertness during the day. A 1 week trial on CPAP therapy is warranted to identify patients who benefit from this form of therapy.

Efficacy of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty in unselected patients with mild obstructive sleep apnea

OBJECTIVES: Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is widely used as a first-step procedure for the surgical management of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome but best manages obstruction occurring at the level of the oropharynx alone and not the hypopharynx. Previous publications have noted mediocre results with use of this procedure in unselected patients with OSA, but less clear is the effectiveness of this procedure in the unselected patient with mild OSA (respiratory event index [REI] 5–25). Using objective and subjective criteria, we retrospectively analyzed the results of UPPP in patients with mild OSA. METHODS: We examined 37 patients with mild OSA (REI 13.5 ± 5.1, range 5.6–23.1) who had been operated on during 1996 with UPPP with or without tonsillectomy and/or septoplasty. Follow-up polysomnography was obtained in 25 (68%) an average of 40.5 weeks after surgery and compared with findings before surgery. Subjective assessment of sleepiness was performed with the Sleep-Wake Activity Inventory. RESULTS: Ten patients (40%) had a postoperative reduction in the REI of more than 50%, comparable with the improvements reported in those with more severe apnea. Those who did not have a reduction in REI after surgery actually saw an increase in average REI from 16.6 ± 5 to 26.7 ± 18.4. Similarly, subjective assessment of sleepiness with the Sleep-Wake Activity Inventory showed no statistically significant improvement after surgery. CONCLUSION: Overall, these results indicate that UPPP alone in the unselected patient provides little benefit in the management of mild OSA, similar to findings for more severe OSA. Surgeons must use great care in discerning the level of obstruction in the patient with mild OSA to tailor the appropriate retropalatal and/or retrolingual procedures and thereby achieve excellent surgical outcomes.

Hypnotic self administration and dose escalation

The dependence liability of benzodiazepines in the context of their use as hypnotics (i.e. by insomnia patients as pre-sleep medications) is unresolved. A recent study found that insomniacs self administer capsules at bedtime at a high rate, with triazolam (0.25 mg) taken as often as placebo. This study sought to determine if differential self administration would develop when multiple capsules are available nightly. Eighteen men and women, age 21–45 years, with insomnia complaints (nine with objective sleep disturbance and nine without) were studied, I week with placebo and I week with triazolam (0.25 mg). The two conditions were administered double-blind and presented in a counter-balanced order with a week between conditions. In each condition, after 3 consecutive sampling nights of the available single capsule for that condition, subjects could self administer 0–3 capsules before bed on the 4 subsequent nights. Triazolam was self administered as many nights as placebo, but the number of placebo capsules self administered was twice that of triazolam capsules. The objective insomniacs self administered more capsules than the subjective insomniacs and neither group differentially choose triazolam over placebo. The number of triazolam capsules taken nightly was stable and the number of placebo capsules variable. It is concluded that insomniacs show no shortterm escalation of triazolam dose, but do choose an increased and variable number of placebos, a pattern which is interpreted as being insomnia relief-seeking behavior.

The siesta culture concept is not supported by the sleep habits of urban Mexican students

Evidence in support for the concept of the so‐called ‘siesta culture’ is not well developed and has, to date, relied largely on qualitative anthropological data. Presumably such cultures are characterized by a strong tendency for daytime naps and daytime sleepiness, phenomena which may partially represent the effects of geographic, climatic or light conditions and/or cultural influences. In this study we surveyed the nocturnal sleep habits and daytime sleep tendencies of 577 Mexican college students residing in Mexico City (19°N latitude). Results indicated a number of parallels between the reported sleep habits of these students and those reported from other cultures at latitudes far to the north (North America, Europe), such as longer sleep at the weekends, an association between snoring and daytime sleepiness and a lack of relationship between nocturnal sleep duration and the reported tendency to nap. There was some suggestion that these Mexican students may actually nap less when compared to other college student populations. Taken together, these results call into question what is meant by the concept of a ‘siesta culture’, at least in this urban, educated, upper social economic scale (SES) population, and suggest that future studies in equatorial regions be undertaken to further appreciate the role of climate, photoperiod and/or culture in the tendency for humans to nap during the day.

The reliability of the diagnostic features in patients with narcolepsy

This study determined the test-retest reliability of the polysomnographic findings in narcolepsy. The diagnosis of narcolepsy was based on clinical symptoms and polysomnographic signs. Control subjects were screened before participation and were split based on their screening multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) into high- and low-MSLT groups. Subjects completed two polysomnographic evaluations with at least 5 days between laboratory tests. Narcoleptics had lower sleep efficiencies and high stage 1% when compared to the low MSLT control group. They had more awakenings and less stage 2% than the control groups. Narcoleptics had a shorter latency to 1 when compared to the high-MSLT group but comparable to that of the low-MSLT group. Narcoleptics had a higher number of sleep-onset rapid eye movement periods (SOREMPs) than both control groups. The MSLT scores were stable across the two evaluations and showed a statistically significant correlation. Twenty-eight of the 30 narcoleptic subjects had two or more SOREMPs on reevaluation. None of the controls had multiple SOREMPs. Thus, multiple SOREMPs were shown to be a reliable finding in patients with narcolepsy.

Sleepiness/alertness among healthy evening and morning type individuals

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the level of sleepiness/alertness among different chronotypes.Background: The Horne-Ostberg Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) has allowed the characterization of chronotypes that are associated with a number of biological factors including: body temperature, cortisol rhythm, sleep patterns, and architecture.Methods: Fifty-six consecutive normal volunteers underwent an 8-h polysomnogram followed by a multiple sleep latency test (MSLT). Each subject also completed the MEQ and the Sleep/Wake Activity Inventory.Results: Evening types (ET) reported significantly later bedtimes and risetimes than both morning types (MT) and neither types (NT, P<0.05). On nocturnal polysomnography, the ET documented significantly longer latencies to stage 1 and persistent sleep when compared to both the NT and MT (P<0.01). There were no significant differences in the level of sleepiness on the MSLT across the different chronotypes. However, the pattern of sleepiness differed among them. While ET and NT showed differential sleep latencies across nap opportunities, MT showed no evidence of circadian variation on their level of sleepiness.Conclusions: There were no overall differences in daytime sleepiness/alertness across chronotypes. However, a differential pattern of sleep latencies was noted on the MSLT.

OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA SYNDROME AND ACROMEGALY

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is a complex disorder that has been associated with a variety of abnormalities of the upper airway, including tonsil and adenoid hypertrophy, nasal obstruction, retrognathia, and macroglossia. The cause of the airway obstruction in acromegaly is believed to be related to osseous and soft-tissue changes surrounding the upper airway, which lead to narrowing and subsequent collapse during sleep. We describe the results of treatment in seven patients with both sleep apnea and acromegaly. Four patients were treated by transsphenoidal hypophysectomy alone with a resolution of sleep apnea syndrome. One underwent hypophysectomy followed by postoperative radiation therapy, which reduced his apnea. Three patients underwent unsuccessful uvulopalatopharyngoplasty. Successful treatment of the primary disorder, in this case acromegaly, resulted in improved breathing during sleep in five patients. This series would suggest that acromegalic patients with sleep apnea should be treated for their pituitary tumor to reduce growth hormone before consideration of surgery to enlarge or bypass the upper airway.