Nasal Surgery improves Continuous Positive Airway Pressure compliance and Daytime Sleepiness in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

Background: The pressure level during nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and the compliance may be influenced by the improvement in nasal patency resulting from nasal surgery.

Methods: We investigated 12 male OSAS patients, diagnosed by standard polysomnography, nasal airflow resistance, and Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS), who were evaluated before and after nasal surgery under the use of CPAP.

Results: The total nasal resistance was reduced after nasal surgery in all OSAS patients. A significant difference was observed in the ESS scores postoperatively. Nasal surgery significantly improved both the CPAP pressure and the compliance in all patients.

Conclusion: Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) intolerance in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) patients can be adequately improved by nasal surgery. The improvement of CPAP compliance may be brought about by the reduction in applied CPAP pressure after the improvement of nasal patency.