SAN DIEGO-A change in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS’) policy for national carrier determination on coverage for continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) has created an opportunity for otolaryngologists who want to pursue incorporation of home sleep studies to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) into their practices.
In a recent debate-style panel, five otolaryngologists addressed topical clinical issues relating to the pediatric airway ranging from adenotonsillectomy in children with obstructive sleep symptoms, to whether cidofovir should be used as a standard treatment in children with recurrent respiratory papillomas.
SAN DIEGO-For patients who undergo surgery for obstructive sleep apnea, failure of surgery to achieve success presents a number of challenges to otolaryngologists. First and foremost is the challenge of correctly assessing the outcome of surgery followed by the need to choose additional therapy tailored to the particular needs of each patient.
Medical residents used to work shifts so long that fatigue blurred their vision, clouded their judgment, and overall put them on the brink of mental and physical exhaustion.
Patients who complain of daytime sleepiness may have obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), but otolaryngologists should not assume that OSAS is the sole or even the primary cause, according to experts here at the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) annual meeting.
Just how much of the nose plays a role in sleep-disordered breathing should probably get a bit more attention.
Does multilevel upper airway surgery preclude continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) usage, and is there a best way to repair cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks?
More is being learned about sleep and how it relates to otolaryngology. At the recent Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meeting, attendees heard details about how the different stages of sleep affect obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), as well as intriguing findings showing how airway anatomy changes can actually be seen during sleep with use of real-time CT imaging.