Subjective Assessment of Voice, Nasality, and Swallowing Changes in Patients with OSAS after Anterior Uvulopalatoplasty

Objectives: None provided. Methods: In this prospective clinical study, 41 adult patients (32 males, 9 females) diagnosed for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and operated at university hospital by anterior uvulopalatoplasty between December 2008 and December 2010 at least 6 months (median 10.0 months) before investigation, formed the study group. A total of 17 nonoperated OSAS patients matched by age, sex, smoking rate, and OSAS severity served as controls. Post service with questionnaires and telephone conversation was accomplished. Patient and control symptoms (hoarseness, nasality of voice, and dysphagia) were assessed using 10-point Likert scale (1-normal). Voice quality was assessed by voice handicap index (VHI), and hypernasality by auditory perceptual Gutzmann hypernasality test. Results: Hoarseness ratings for OSAS patients were similar before and after the surgery, with no significant impact on voice handicap. Moreover, total VHI score significantly dropped after the surgery from 9.2 points to 5.4 points out of maximum 120 (P < .05). Mild nasality of voice with mean intensity score of 1.4 ± 1.0 points was self-rated by 17.1% of patients, but postoperative rating was significantly lower than that before surgery (2.0 ± 1.9; P < .05). No significant differences were found in dysphagia scores and Gutzmann test before and after the palatal surgery and between treated by surgery and control groups. Conclusions: Anterior uvulopalatoplasty does not result in significant changes in voice, nasality and swallowing when rated by OSAS patients and by clinical assessment.