The Division of Sleep Surgery is actively engaged in a wide variety of research efforts, and we are recognized nationally and internationally for this work.  Our research is sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, the American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery Foundation, and the American Laryngological, Rhinological, and Otological Society (aka Triological Society). These investigations are supported by the resources of the UCSF CTSI Clinical Research Center and the UCSF Center for Clinical Research in Otolaryngology.  As the surgical treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea are relatively new fields, we take pride in using the knowledge gained from our research to teach other healthcare providers and provide the highest quality of care to our patients.

Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy
Successful surgical treatment of obstructive sleep apnea is based on the accurate identification of the pattern of airway obstruction and targeted, effective treatment. There are several evaluation techniques available to help guide decision-making, and each has advantages and disadvantages. This research explores the role of drug-induced sleep endoscopy, an evaluation procedure performed in the operating room that involves the administration of sedation by an anesthesiologist while we look with a flexible endoscope (telescope) through the nose and into the throat to observe the pattern of airway blockage. The research has evaluated important characteristics of this innovative technique with a comparison to other evaluation procedures and an examination of surgical results.

For additional information, please see the description at the National Institutes of Health website.

Measuring the Effectiveness of Sleep Apnea Surgery
Obstructive sleep apnea carries important adverse cardiovascular, pulmonary, and metabolic health effects and contributes to daytime sleepiness and decreases in quality of life and alertness. The standard metric of surgical outcomes is based on a preoperative and postoperative sleep studies that evaluate breathing patterns during sleep. While improvement in breathing patterns is essential, this research expands the definition of surgical effectiveness to consider the potential benefits of surgical treatment related to health and behavioral effects and compares these changes to those seen with positive airway pressure therapy.

For additional information, please see the description at the National Institutes of Health website.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Surgical Treatment Patterns
This research examines national obstructive sleep apnea surgical treatment patterns. This secondary data analysis utilizes a series of databases developed by the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project under the auspices of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The goal is to characterize the number and types of procedures, patient and hospital characteristics, charges, and trends associated with obstructive sleep apnea surgical treatment over the period 2000-2006.

Effects of Obstructive Sleep Apnea In Older Adults
Most of the research describing the impacts of obstructive sleep apnea has focused on young and middle-aged adults. Two large, multi-institutional studies coordinated through the University of California, San Francisco are permitting the evaluation of the impacts in older women and men. Members of the Division of Sleep Surgery are working with the lead investigators from these studies to address the quality of life and health consequences of obstructive sleep apnea in older adults.