Acoustic parameters of snoring sound to assess the effectiveness of sleep nasendoscopy in predicting surgical outcome.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of two grading systems used to predict surgical outcome in nonapneic snorers.

Study Design: A prospective observational study. Prior to undergoing palatal surgery, 20 patients completed a sleep nasendoscopic examination involving sequential steady-state sedation with intravenous propofol. Using a combination of acoustic parameters of snoring sound as an objective outcome measurement, and the answers to a specifically designed questionnaire as a subjective outcome measurement, the effectiveness of each grading system in predicting surgical outcome was examined.

Results: Depending on the outcome measurement used, sensitivity in predicting success of surgery for snoring varied from 16.7% to 50.0% and specificity from 38.5% to 62.5% for the Pringle and Croft system, while sensitivity varied from 91.7% to 100% and specificity from 30.8% to 31.5% for the Camilleri system.

Conclusion: Sleep nasendoscopy using these classifications cannot be recommended as a reliable predictor of surgical outcome in nonapneic snorers.

Ebm Rating: C-4.