Matching Patient to Procedure: The Art and Science of Sleep Surgery Selection

Tuesday, October 20, 2026

11:15 AM - 12:15 PM PT

Location: 515A

Moderator(s)

Andrea M. Plawecki, MD

Assistant Professor, Sleep Surgeon
Henry Ford Health
Plymouth, MI, United States

Panelist(s)

Emily A. Commesso, MD

Assistant Professor, Sleep Surgeon
Duke University School of Medicine
Chapel Hill, NC, United States
Yi Cai, MD

Director of Sleep Surgery
Columbia University
New York, New York, United States
Michael J. Hutz, MD

Assistant Professor, Section Head of Sleep Surgery
Rush University Medical Center
Elmhurst, Illinois, United States

Disclosure(s):

Andrea M. Plawecki, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Emily A. Commesso, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

As surgical options for obstructive sleep apnea continue to evolve, selecting the right procedure for the right patient has become increasingly complex. In this interactive panel, experts in sleep surgery will walk attendees through a practical, stepwise approach to preoperative patient evaluation, integrating clinical assessment, sleep study interpretation, and drug-induced sleep endoscopy. Through discussion and real-world examples, panelists will highlight how anatomic, physiologic, and phenotypic features influence procedural selection and expected outcomes, including when staged or multilevel surgery may be appropriate. Attendees will gain a clear, evidence-informed framework they can apply immediately to improve patient selection, counseling, and surgical outcomes.

Learning Objectives:

Apply a structured preoperative evaluation framework to guide sleep surgery patient selection.
Integrate clinical assessment, polysomnogram, and drug-induced sleep endoscopy findings to identify dominant anatomic, physiologic, and phenotypic traits relevant to procedure selection.
Apply evidence-informed selection principles to improve surgical outcomes and patient counseling.