0660 The Association Between Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders and Free Flap Reconstruction Surgery in Patients With Oral and Oropharyngeal Cancers During 6-Month Follow-Up

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Little was known about the association between sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBDs) and oral and oropharynx cancers (OOCs). To clarify the impact of free flap reconstruction on SRBDs, we performed a pilot study to investigate the change of SRBDs severity in patients with OOC before and after flap reconstruction surgery. Methods This study recruited 15 patients who were newly diagnosed with OOCs and expected to receive free flap reconstruction surgery. For each participant, polysomnography tests were performed repeatedly at the time of pre-operative, post-operative 1-week, and post-operative 6-month periods. Results All the subjects were male. Median age was 56 years (range 37-68). Mean of body mass index (BMI) was 24.5 (SD 5.8). Pre-operative apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was 21.1/hour (SD 20.1). During post-operative 1-week period, BMI was 24.1(SD 5.8) and AHI was 40.2/hour (SD 27.9). During post-operative 6-month period, BMI was 23.4 (SD 3.3) and AHI was 33.3/hour (SD 21.6). Comparison between pre-operative and post-operative 6-month periods, there was no significant difference in BMI, but AHI increased significantly (21.1/hour v.s. 33.3/hour, P = 0.01). Conclusion Our study showed that OOCs patients with free flap reconstruction surgery had significantly increased AHI level during post-operative 1-week period. The SRBDs severity became partial remission after 6 months. We recommend that the head and neck cancer team should pay attention to the SRBDs issues in OOCs patients with free flap reconstruction surgery. Support