Abstract
No recent update is available on long-term results of the various types of treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) which can help the physician in evaluating the individually tailored treatment for patients with OSA in the long term. We arbitrarily defined “long-term” results as those after at least 3 years and reviewed the literature from the past 25 years for reports on conservative, apparative, and surgical therapy of OSA in children and adults. Another inclusion criterion was that the diagnosis was also confirmed by polysomnography before treatment and at follow-up. Only relatively few long-term studies meeting the criteria of ‘evidence based medicine’ were found, comparing the findings of these was difficult or impossible due to varying criteria for success. Long-term data were available about the effect of weight reduction, nasal ventilation therapy, oral devices, tonsillectomy, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, maxillomandibular advancement osteotomies, and tracheotomy. After approx. 25 years many treatment modalities in sleep medicine are still experimental concerning the long-term use for the individual. In particular, randomized controlled trials in surgery are lacking. Late results show that at least 50% of patients with OSA can be treated effectively by one or a combination of treatments. Nasal continuous positive airway pressure, tracheotomy, maxillomandibular advancement osteotomy, and tonsillectomy are the most effective treatments of OSA.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received: 12 July 2000 / Accepted: 20 July 2000
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Pirsig, W., Verse, T. Long-term results in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology 257, 570–577 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004050000278
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004050000278