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Objective To evaluate the association between findings of blinded reviews of preoperative drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) examinations using the VOTE Classification and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) surgical outcomes in a large multicenter, international cohort. Methods Retrospective, multi-center cohort study of adults without tonsillar hypertrophy who underwent pharyngeal surgery for OSA. The study included only participants without enlarged tonsils. Four independent reviewers performed blinded review of preoperative DISE videos using the VOTE Classification system and scoring of a primary structure contributing to airway obstruction. DISE findings were examined for an association with surgical outcomes with univariate analyses and multiple regression. Results Two hundred seventy-five study participants were included from 14 centers. Mean age was 51.4 +/- 11.8 years, and body mass index was 30.1 +/- 5.2 kg/m(2). There was moderate interrater reliability (kappa = 0.40-0.60) for DISE findings. Oropharyngeal lateral wall-related obstruction was associated with poorer surgical outcomes (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 0.51; 95% CI 0.27, 0.93). Complete tongue-related obstruction was associated with a lower odds of surgical response in moderate to severe OSA (AOR 0.52; 95% CI 0.28, 0.98), with findings that were similar but not statistically significant in other analyses. Surgical outcomes were not clearly associated with the degree and configuration of velum-related obstruction or the degree of epiglottis-related obstruction. Surgical response was associated with tonsil size and body mass index (inversely). Conclusion DISE findings concerning the oropharyngeal lateral walls and tongue may be the most important findings of this evaluation tec

PURPOSE: No study to date has described the overall landscape of sleep disorders management and training in otolaryngology departments of different countries. The aim of our study was to investigate and compare settings, diagnostic and therapeutic approaches and training programmes. METHODS: An international online survey was developed with the collaboration of the YO-IFOS (Young Otolaryngologists-International Federation of Otorhinolaryngological Societies) to assess the current practice of otolaryngologists in the management of sleep disorders. The survey also included a session dedicated to training. RESULTS: A total of 126 otolaryngologists completed the survey. The larger part of responses was collected from Central/South America and Europe. The majority of responders from South/Central America (97%) declared to be certified as sleep specialist while 49% of Europeans stated the opposite. Of responders 83% perform a drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) before planning a possible surgical intervention. Soft palate and base of tongue interventions were the most common procedure, respectively performed in 94% and 79% of the cases. Residents were allowed to perform soft palate surgery in 77% of the cases. Upper airway stimulation (26% vs 10%), trans-oral robotic surgery (36% vs 11%) and radiofrequency of the base of the tongue (58% vs 25%) were preferred more frequently by European responders. The highest caseloads of soft palate surgery and bi-maxillary advancement were registered in the academic institutions. CONCLUSION: Significant concordance and few interesting divergences in diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders were observed between nationalities and types of institution. Economic resources might have played a significant role in the therapeutic choice. Trainees' lack of exposure to certain interventions and to a sufficient caseload appeared to be the main burden to overcome.