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Re: The role of ENT surgeons in snoring assessment: some prospective preliminary evidence
Author(s) -
Shayah A.,
Coatesworth A.P.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
clinical otolaryngology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.914
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1749-4486
pISSN - 1749-4478
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-4486.2009.01885.x
Subject(s) - medicine , citation , library science , general hospital , family medicine , computer science
Sir, We read with interest the paper by Robertson et al. which outlines a proposed future role of ENT surgeons in assessing patients with snoring. This case-series (rather than a cohort study) showed a significant correlation between hard nasal symptoms and positive clinical examination of the nose in snorers, which is not surprising. The role of ENT surgeons is very important in assessing snoring. Being ENT surgeons does not exclude the fact that we are physicians who operate on a proportion of patients who come to clinic. Endoscopic examination is important in order to assess the level of snoring as well as exclude any structural abnormality in the upper aerdigestive tract, even with the absence of any nasal symptoms or finding. Traditionally, many procedures have been advocated to help this purpose, such as Mueller’s manoeuvre and sleep endoscopy. Full assessment of snoring should involve general and local factors which contribute to the patient’s complaint, such as any history of apnoea attacks, high body mass index, reflux, smoking, alcohol consumption, uvula size and laxity of soft palate, collar size and base of tongue. The paper did not clearly identify the potential importance of these factors. Univariate analysis is not the appropriate test for this study because it is used in parametric data however the data in this study is non-parametric. Finally, we disagree with the authors in handing over snoring assessment to other allied health professionals, which may affect training.