Prediction of obstructive sleep apnea: comparative performance of three screening instruments on the apnea-hypopnea index and the oxygen desaturation index.

Purpose: To evaluate the performance of the NoSAS (neck, obesity, snoring, age, sex) score, the STOP-Bang (snoring, tiredness, observed apneas, blood pressure, body mass index, age, neck circumference, gender) questionnaire, and the Epworth sleepiness score (ESS) as a screening tool for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) severity based on the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and the oxygen desaturation index (ODI).

Methods: Data from 235 patients who were monitored by ambulant polysomnography (PSG) were retrospectively analyzed. OSA severity was classified based on the AHI; similar classification categories were made based on the ODI.

Long-term results of external upper esophageal sphincter myotomy for oropharyngeal Dysphagia.

The aim of this work was to assess the efficacy of external myotomy of the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) for oropharyngeal dysphagia. In the period 1991-2006, 28 patients with longstanding dysphagia and/or aspiration problems of different etiologies underwent UES myotomy as a single surgical treatment. The main symptoms were difficulties in swallowing of a solid-food bolus, aspiration, and recurrent incidents of solid-food blockages.

Endoscopic carbon dioxide laser Zenker's diverticulotomy revisited.

Objectives: We assessed the efficacy of endoscopic Zenker's diverticulotomy with the carbon dioxide (CO2) laser and Acuspot and compared it with the historical results of using a CO2 laser without Acuspot and electrocautery diverticulotomy.

Methods: Between 1976 and 2005, a total of 229 endoscopic Zenker's diverticulotomies in 189 patients were performed in our institution. Since 1995, micro-endoscopic diverticulotomy with the CO2 laser and Acuspot (MEDCO2A) has been performed in 61 cases.

Long-term results of laryngeal suspension and upper esophageal sphincter myotomy as treatment for life-threatening aspiration.

Objectives: We evaluated the long-term results of laryngeal suspension and upper esophageal sphincter (UES) myotomy in patients with life-threatening aspiration.

Methods: In the period 1995 to 2004, 17 patients with severe aspiration caused by insufficient laryngeal elevation and absent or negligible pharyngeal constrictor muscle activity during deglutition resulting in aspiration pneumonia were surgically treated with a laryngeal suspension procedure and UES myotomy. Preoperative and postoperative videofluoroscopy was performed to assess swallowing and aspiration.