Long-term outcomes of extracapsular tonsillectomy in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea in adults

• Published in: Acta oto-laryngologica 2024-11, Vol.144 (11-12), p.646-6
• Main Authors: Knubb, Jenny, Sjöblom, Henrik M, Ikonen, Ella, Suomela, Miika, Piitulainen, Jaakko M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Female; Finland; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive - surgery; Tonsillectomy - methods; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0001-6489; 1651-2251; 1651-2251
• DOI: 10.1080/00016489.2024.2420700

Tonsillectomy is an effective treatment option for obstructive sleep apnoea in selected adult patients, but there has been a lack of long-term follow-up data. To analyse the long-term outcomes of extracapsular tonsillectomy in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea in adults, with the longest follow-up periods to date. We recruited adults who had undergone extracapsular tonsillectomy because of obstructive sleep apnoea between 2004 and 2018 in the Hospital District of Southwest Finland. A new home sleep study, questionnaires, and a structured phone interview were conducted on these patients 4-17 years after surgical treatment. The primary outcome was the change in the apnoea-hypopnoea index. The mean apnoea-hypopnoea index was reduced from 27.1 preoperatively to 14.1 after the long-term follow-up (mean 12 years), and the mean Epworth Sleepiness Scale score decreased from 9.2 to 4.6. The long-term surgical success rate was 38.5%. Four out of five patients would choose the surgery again according to the phone interview. This study supports the notion that extracapsular tonsillectomy alone can be considered as a surgical treatment option for selected adults with obstructive sleep apnoea and tonsillar hypertrophy. For most of the patients, the obstructive sleep apnoea is alleviated.