Injection snoreplasty: comparison between ethanol and ethanolamine oleate in snoring treatment

INTRODUÇÃO: O ronco acomete grande parte da população e o seu tratamento é um desafio, pois existem muitas opções terapêuticas e esta escolha deve ser individualizada. Entre vários procedimentos palatais para tratamento do ronco e da apneia do sono, a injeção roncoplástica (IR) surgiu como uma alternativa econômica para alguns casos selecionados. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar os resultados da IR no tratamento do ronco, comparando o oleato de etanolamina 5% e o etanol 50%. Além disso, descrever uma metodologia de aplicação própria e analisar seus resultados clínicos, complicações, medidas palatais por ressonância magnética (RM) e parâmetros polissonográficos. MÉTODOS: estudo clínico, duplo cego e randomizado, realizado de 2007 a 2010. Foram incluídos adultos roncadores com índice de apneia-hipopneia (IAH) 35, obstrução nasal ou faríngea > 50% da via aérea, deformidade crânio-facial, gestação, ausência de acompanhante de quarto, alergia ou comorbidade grave. Sessões ambulatoriais de IR foram realizadas no palato mole (três pontos), máximo de três sessões, com quatro semanas de intervalo mínimo. Os pacientes foram divididos em dois grupos: um recebeu oleato de etanolamina 5% (A) e o outro, etanol 50%(B). A intensidade do ronco foi aferida por escala visual-analógica de 10cm (EVA). Foram analisados outros parâmetros clínicos, como sonolência e dor, além de RM e polissonografias. RESULTADOS: Dos 22 pacientes incluídos neste estudo (A=9 / B=13), 19 (86,4%) apresentaram diminuição importante ou desaparecimento do ronco. A intensidade de ronco (EVA) decresceu nos dois grupos: de 8,0 para 3,0 no Grupo A (p=0,007) e de 8,0 para 3,0 no Grupo B (p=0,001). A escala de sonolência de Epworth diminui de 8,0 para 6,0 no Grupo A (p=0,05) e de 11,0 para 5,0 no Grupo B (p=0,005). A dor durante o procedimento, aferida em EVA, foi de 4,0 nos dois Grupos. Nos dias subseqüentes, a dor foi de 3,5 no Grupo A e 2,0 no Grupo B, sem diferença entre os grupos. Na amostra geral, o tempo médio para retorno a alimentação foi de 2,0 dias e a melhora do ronco ocorreu em 14,0 dias. Não foram observadas complicações graves. Vinte e um pacientes apresentaram afta palatal, mas nenhum desenvolveu fístula. Das medidas realizadas por RM, a espessura palatal reduziu de 0,9 para 0,8 cm (p=0,34), o comprimento palatal diminuiu de 3,7 para 3,4 cm (p=0,02) e a área palatal foi de 2,8 para 2,5 cm2 (p=0,29). Nas polissonografias, o IAH variou de 6,9 para 5,0 no Grupo A (p=0,89) e de 5,2 para 6,3 no Grupo B (p=0,22), enquanto a saturação mínima de O2 e os microdespertares não apresentaram alterações estatisticamente significantes. CONCLUSÕES: A IR mostrou resultados favoráveis no tratamento do ronco, porém não houve diferença entre os grupos que receberam oleato de etanolamina 5% e etanol 50%. Nossa metodologia de aplicação reproduziu as taxas de sucesso de outros estudos, sem apresentar casos de fístula palatal ou complicações graves. As aferições por RM evidenciaram redução do comprimento palatal após as injeções. Não foram observadas alterações das variáveis polissonográficas após o procedimentoBACKGROUND: Snoring affects a significant portion of the population and the treatment is a challenge, because there are many options and the choice should be individualized. Among various palatal procedures for the treatment of snoring and sleep apnea, the injection snoreplasty (IS) has emerged as an economic alternative for selected cases. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate IS in the snoring treatment, comparing 5% ethanolamine oleate and 50% ethanol. Also, to describe a distinct method of injection and analyze its clinical results, complications, palatal measures by resonance imaging (MRI), and polysomnographic parameters. METHODS: Clinical, double-blind, randomized trial conducted from 2007 to 2010. Adult snorers with apneahypopnea index (AHI) 35, pharyngeal or nasal obstruction> 50% of the airway, craniofacial deformity, pregnancy, lack of room partner, allergy or severe comorbidity. IS outpatient sessions were held in the soft palate (three points), maximum of three sessions, with at least four weeks apart. Patients were randomized into two groups: 5% ethanolamine oleate (A) or 50% ethanol (B). The intensity of snoring was measured by visual-analogue scale of 10 cm (VAS). Other clinical parameters were analyzed, such as sleepiness and pain, as well as MRI and polysomnography. RESULTS: Of 22 patients enrolled in this study (A = 9 / B = 13), 19 (86.4%) showed significant reduction or disappearance of snoring. The snoring loudness (VAS) decreased in both groups: 8.0 to 3.0 in Group A (p=0.007) and 8.0 to 3.0 in Group B (p=0.001). The Epworth Sleepiness Scale decreased from 8.0 to 6.0 in Group A (p=0.05) and from 11.0 to 5.0 in Group B (p=0.005). The pain during the procedure, measured by VAS, was 4.0 in both Groups. On subsequent days, the pain was 3.5 in Group A and 2.0 in Group B, with no difference between groups. In the overall sample, the mean time to return to regular nourishing was 2.0 days and the improvement of snoring occurred in 14.0 days. There were no serious complications. Twenty-one patients had palatal ulcer, but none developed fistula. On the MRI measurements, the palatal thickness reduced from 0.9 to 0.8 cm (p=0.34), the palatal length decreased from 3.7 to 3.4 cm (p=0.02) and the palatal area decreased from 2.8 to 2.5 cm2 (p=0.29). On polysomnography, the AHI ranged from 6.9 to 5.0 in Group A (p=0.89) and from 5.2 to 6.3 in Group B (p=0.22), while the lowest O2 saturation and arousals showed no statistically significant changes. CONCLUSIONS: IS showed favorable results in the treatment of snoring, but with no difference between the groups receiving 5% ethanolamine oleate and 50% ethanol. Our own methodology reproduced the success rates of other studies, without cases of palatal fistula or severe complications. Measures by MRI showed a reduction of the palatal length after the injections. There were no changes in polysomnographic variables after the procedur

Evaluation of the Risk of Sleep Obstructive Apnea Syndrome (SOAS) in Patients Admitted in a Slimming Spa

Introduction: The association between Sleep Obstructive Apnea Syndrome (SOAS) and the obesity has been highly studied. The SOAS is characterized by the repetitive obstruction of the upper airways during the sleep, many times accompanied by snores, oxygen desaturation, sleep fragmentation and excessive daytime somnolence (EDS). Type of Study: Prospective Transversal. Objective: To analyze the results of the Berlin Questionnaire (BQ) and the Epworth Somnolence Scale (ESS) completed by the patients interned in the Spa Med Campus Sorocaba, attempting to find who has daytime somnolence and high risk for SOAS. Method: The patients completed the Berlin Questionnaire and the ESS voluntarily. The study was of transversal type with analysis of the questionnaires completed during the year of 2008. Results: We obtained a total of 276 patients with a total of 183 women and 93 men. The prevalence of obese patients was of 111 patients (40.2%). In the positive BQ group, we obtained a total of 84 patients; 34 male; as to the positive ESS group, we found a total of 67 patients, 24 male. Conclusion: The ESS and the BQ have been useful currently for selection of the sleep disorders and may serve as a possible indicator for polysonography. The questionnaires' results show us the high prevalence of individuals interned in SPA with the risk of having SOAS, specially the obese ones