[Update on surgery for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome].
Several indications for surgery for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have been clarified within the past 3 years. In pediatric OSA, adenotonsillectomy and tonsillotomy are the most common treatments and are highly effective. In adults, nasal surgery facilitates--and sometimes enables--nasally applied continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment. Today, minimally invasive treatment options for mild OSA are established. Furthermore, several invasive surgical techniques have proven to be efficient in the treatment of mild to moderate OSA. Above an apnea-hypopnea index of 30, surgery should be done only as secondary treatment in cases of CPAP failure or noncompliance. Special forms of OSA, such as laryngeal OSA and supine OSA, must be kept in mind.