Functional Outcomes of Swallowing Following Surgery for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Objective Identification and evaluation of swallowing dysfunction in patients undergoing upper airway surgery for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is limited. This study evaluated subjective swallowing function pre and postoperatively in patients undergoing multi‐level reconstructive pharyngeal sleep surgery. Methods A retrospective analysis of prospectively‐administered Eating Assessment Tool (EAT‐10) scores was conducted among adult patients undergoing surgery for OSA at a tertiary sleep surgery center. Preoperative and 1, 3, and 6‐month postoperative time points were assessed. Patients were subdivided into two groups based on the degree of upper airway reconstruction performed. All patients underwent uvulopalatopharyngoplasty +/−tonsillectomy and tongue‐base reduction. Patients undergoing Phase 1 reconstructive surgery additionally underwent tongue‐base advancement procedures. Results A total 100 patients underwent airway reconstructive surgery. Forty‐one patients underwent Phase 1 surgery; 59 patients underwent Mini‐Phase 1 surgery. Neither group demonstrated preoperative dysphagia. Both groups experienced significant subjective dysphagia at 1‐month postoperatively, which was greater among Phase 1 patients (mean EAT‐10 14.8; SD 10.4) versus Mini‐Phase 1 patients (mean EAT‐10 6.7; SD 7.5) ( p < 0.001). Swallowing function among both groups normalized by 3 and 6 months postoperatively. Phase 1 patients with pre‐operative dysphagia (mean EAT‐10 9.6; SD 5) demonstrated initial worsening of their swallowing postoperatively; however, reported improved swallowing versus pre‐operative levels by 6 months postoperatively (mean EAT‐10 3.6; SD 4.3) ( p = 0.03). Conclusion Pharyngeal surgery resulted in no significant, persistent adverse change in swallowing function. Among both groups, significant subjective dysphagia was reported at 1 month postoperatively, yet returned to preoperative levels by 6 months postoperatively. OSA patients with pre‐existing dysphagia undergoing Phase 1 surgery trended towards improved swallowing function postoperatively. Level of Evidence 2 Laryngoscope , 133:199–204, 2023