Variations in Polysomnographic Indices of Obstructive Sleep Apnea following Lingual Tonsil Hypertrophy Excision: Is the Difference Significant?

Background and Objectives: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep-related respiratory disorder that affects between 5% and 20% of the population. In obstructive sleep apnea, lingual tonsillar hypertrophy (LTH) has been suggested as a contributing factor to airway blockage. Objectives: The aim of this work is to demonstrate the polysomnographic indices and their values in OSA patients with LTH before and after the surgical intervention. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on eighteen patients endoscopically diagnosed as having LTH, with the main complaints being snoring, sleep apnea, and/or sleep disturbance. Clinical examination, grading of LTH, body mass index (BMI), endoscopic assessment using Muller’s maneuver, and sleep endoscopy were recorded for all patients. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and overnight sleep polysomnography (PSG) were conducted before and after the surgical removal of LTH. All data were submitted for statistical analysis. Results: The mean ± SD of the AHI decreased from 33.89 ± 26.8 to 20.9 ± 19.14 postoperatively, and this decrease was of insignificant statistical value. The average SpO2 (%) mean ± SD was 91.14 ± 5.96, while the mean ± SD of the desaturation index was 34.64 ± 34.2. Following surgery, these indices changed to 96.5 ± 1.47 and 9.36 ± 7.58, respectively. The mean ± SD of the ESS was changed after the surgery, from 17.27 ± 6.48 to 7.16 ± 3.56. The mean ± SD of sleep efficacy was 71.2 ± 16.8 and the snoring index mean ± SD was 277.6 ± 192.37, and both improved postoperatively, to become 88.17 ± 9.1 and 62.167 ± 40.01, respectively. Conclusions: The AHI after lingual tonsillectomy showed no statistically significant change. The changes in the average SpO2 (%), desaturation index, sleep efficiency, snoring index, and Epworth Sleepiness Scale following the surgery were statistically significant.