The clinical influence of nasal surgery on PAP compliance and optimal application among OSA subjects uncomfortable with PAP device wear

Abstract

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the alteration of PAP compliance after nasal surgery and to determine the optical indications of nasal surgery in OSA subjects. Among OSA subjects using PAP devices, 29 subjects who underwent septoturbinoplasty due to nasal obstruction were included and their pre- and postoperative medical and PAP records were reviewed retrospectively. The data showed that 55.56% (10/18 patients) of subjects in the good compliance group complained of nasal obstruction as the only barrier to using a PAP device and about 88.89% (16/18 patients) reported experiencing the efficacy of PAP usage. Both the mean and peak average PAP pressures were significantly reduced in the good compliance group following nasal surgery. The bad compliance group had multiple subjective problems that interfered with wearing a PAP device and reported a lack of experiencing the efficacy of PAP usage. Preoperative nasal cavity volume values were smaller and absolute blood eosinophil counts were significantly lower in the good compliance group. The current data demonstrate that nasal surgery might increase the compliance of PAP device wear in OSA subjects who complained of only nasal obstruction as a barrier to wearing PAP and who had small nasal cavity volumes combined with allergic inflammation.