Recovery Expectations After Drug Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE)

While not a guarantee for an individual's experience, this description may inform you on the usual recovery timeline after drug induced sleep endoscopy (DISE).

 

Drug induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) is a short diagnostic procedure, not a treatment. While you are given medicine to put you into a sleep-like state (sedation), your surgeon passes a thin, flexible camera through the nose to watch how and where the airway collapses during snoring and sleep apnea. The camera portion usually takes about 10–20 minutes. Patients go home the same day, and most feel close to normal by the next day. The main recovery is from the sedation medicine rather than from the scope itself. If DISE is combined with another procedure (for example, nasal or throat surgery), recovery follows the timeline of that other procedure instead.

Day of the Procedure (Day 0)

Patients typically spend about an hour or two in the recovery area while the sedation wears off. Common, expected effects include:

  • Drowsiness, grogginess, or mild forgetfulness about the procedure

  • A mildly sore or irritated nose, or a small amount of blood-tinged mucus

  • A slightly sore or dry throat

  • Mild nausea in some patients

Pain is usually minimal. If needed, acetaminophen (Tylenol) is generally enough; opioid pain medicine is rarely needed after DISE. Because the sedation medicines affect judgment and reaction time, an adult must drive you home. For the rest of the day (about 24 hours), do not drive, operate machinery, drink alcohol, or sign important documents. You may start with clear liquids and advance to a regular diet as tolerated once you are fully awake and not nauseated.

If you use CPAP or another sleep apnea device, use it the night after the procedure, especially since leftover sedation can make sleep apnea temporarily worse. Sleeping with the head of the bed slightly raised is also reasonable that first night.

First Few Days (Days 1–3)

Most patients return to work, school, and normal activities the day after DISE. Any nasal stuffiness, sore throat, or blood-tinged mucus usually clears within 1–2 days. Saline nasal spray can soothe a dry or irritated nose. Avoid forceful nose blowing for a day if you had any nosebleed. There are no wound-care needs and no stitches.

Results and Follow-Up (First 1–2 Weeks)

Your surgeon may briefly share findings on the day of the procedure, but because of the sedation, many patients do not remember that conversation. For this reason, results are usually reviewed at a follow-up visit, often within about 1–3 weeks. At that visit, your surgeon will explain the pattern of airway collapse that was seen (for example, at the soft palate, tongue base, side walls of the throat, or epiglottis) and how it affects treatment choices.

DISE findings help decide which treatments are likely to help. For example, a certain pattern called complete concentric collapse at the level of the soft palate generally makes a patient not a candidate for hypoglossal nerve stimulation (such as the Inspire device) under current FDA labeling. Other findings may point toward oral appliance therapy, positional therapy, nasal surgery, palate or tongue base surgery, or continuing CPAP.

Things to Know

  • DISE does not treat sleep apnea by itself. Continue your current treatment (such as CPAP) until your surgeon recommends a change.

  • Sedated sleep is not exactly the same as natural sleep, so DISE is one piece of information used together with your sleep study and exam.

  • People with severe sleep apnea, heavy body weight, or significant heart or lung disease may be monitored a little longer after sedation.

When to Seek Urgent Attention

Serious problems after DISE are uncommon. Contact your surgeon or seek urgent care for:

  • Nosebleed that does not stop after 15–20 minutes of firm pressure on the soft part of the nose

  • Trouble breathing, noisy breathing, or choking that is new or worsening

  • Chest pain, a racing or irregular heartbeat, or fainting

  • Persistent vomiting, or being unable to keep down fluids

  • Confusion or excessive sleepiness that does not improve the day after the procedure

  • Fever over 101°F (38.3°C)

Call 911 for severe trouble breathing, chest pain, or if you cannot be awakened normally.