The Role of Bariatric Surgery in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

OBJECTIVES: Obesity is a chronic disease that impacts all age groups worldwide and leads to serious health problems, such as obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Bariatric surgery is a treatment option for patients with both OSAS and obesity who fail to lose weight. The efficacy of bariatric surgery in morbidly obese patients with OSAS was evaluated. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-six patients for whom obesity surgery was planned were enrolled. All subjects underwent overnight polysomnography (PSG) preoperatively and postoperatively within 8.35 (+/- 2.31) months. OSAS symptoms and sleep parameters were evaluated. RESULTS: Symptoms were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively in patients with (17, 65.4%) and without (9, 34.6%) OSAS. PSG results and sleep parameters were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively in patients with OSAS (17/ 26) and those who completed the follow-up. All sleep parameter values for respiratory disturbance index (RDI), rapid eye movement (REM) RDI, non-REM RDI, apnea index (AI), and 3% oxyhemoglobin desaturation index were improved significantly (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Bariatric surgery may be another treatment option for morbidly obese patients with OSAS that is to be used together with other treatments, such as non-invasive mechanical ventilation.