Efficiency of maxillomandibular advancement for the treatment of obstructive apnea syndrome: a comprehensive overview of systematic reviews.

Abstract

To evaluate the efficiency of maxillomandibular advancement using aggregated individual patient data from multiple studies. This overview was structured according to the PICO strategy. It adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses checklist and was recorded on the international prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO-CRD42020206135). Searches were conducted in the PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, LILACS, and Cochrane databases for studies published until January 1, 2021. Data from the included studies were collected by one author, while another reviewed the compilation. Twelve systematic reviews were included. The outcome measures studied were the apnea-hypopnea index, respiratory disturbance index, mean oxygen saturation, lowest oxygen saturation, sleepiness data, posterior air space, sella-nasion point A angle, sella-nasion point B angle, surgical success, and surgical cure in patients who underwent surgery. The AMSTAR scale presented moderate evaluations, with grades varying between 6 and 10 points. The Glenny scale revealed that the study selection did not include all languages. Only three reviews identified quality assessments conducted by at least two reviewers and only five related possible searches for unpublished data. Bimaxillary advancement surgery improved respiratory indicators, sleepiness data, and increased upper airway size. However, it is necessary to standardize the surgical criteria to establish measurable efficiency of the procedure. This overview makes a critical analysis of the results of the selected systematic reviews with the aim of presenting the most clinically relevant data on the maxillomandibular advancement for treating obstructive apnea syndrome, with a focus on improving respiratory, anatomical, and quality of life indices. There are no overviews that approach this theme from a well-structured perspective.