Effect of Han-uvulopalatopharyngoplasty on flow-mediated dilatation in patients with moderate or severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Conclusion: Flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) is decreased in patients with moderate or severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), and Han-uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (H-UPPP) can improve FMD.

Objective: To evaluate FMD in patients with moderate or severe OSAS and observe the effect of H-UPPP on FMD in these patients.

Methods: Forty-nine patients who were first diagnosed with moderate or severe OSAS by polysomnography (PSG) and had no other diseases served as the experimental group, and 35 individuals with normal PSG as the control group. FMD was measured with high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography in the two groups. PSG and FMD were again performed in the experimental group 6 months after H-UPPP.

Results: FMD was significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control group (6.5 ± 2.1% vs 11.2 ± 2.9%, p < 0.01). FMD was significantly improved 6 months after H-UPPP compared with preoperative FMD (9.7 ± 2.7% vs 6.5 ± 2.1%, p < 0.01).