Comprehensive Evaluation of the Surgical OSAS: In Office and DISE

Abstract

Obstructive sleep apnea is a multifactorial disease whose prevalence is increasing over the years. Due to different mechanism, the upper airway (UA) collapses during sleep. The ENT is the specialty that plays an important role in the exploration of the UA and also in the treatment of OSA, because the UA is our domain and in our hands is the ability to explore and to treat the disease. Nevertheless, the exploration of the UA in an obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) patient is not the same as the exploration of other pathologies, one has to pay attention to small details that are not important in everyday exploration but in OSAS can change the treatment plan. In this article, the most important tips of the UA exploration awake and sleep will be discussed to provide a guide that can help the ENT to choose the best treatment for every patient.