Obstructive sleep apnea： An interdisciplinary challenge for otorhinolaryngologists

摘要

Otolaryngologists play a pivotal role in the diagnosis and management of sleep-related breathing disorders(SRBD) in both adults and children. Otolaryngologists are often the first medical specialists to be contacted by patients with complaints as snoring, episodic sleep apnea observed by the bed partners with or without reported excessive daytime sleepiness and therefore emerge as important gatekeepers of the general health of an individual by means of an active preventive, and in many cases therapeutic, role. Comprehensivediagnosis and treatment of SRBD requires a team approach and hence building interdisciplinary teams with other involved relevant specialties is necessary from the patients' perspective.