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Determining the site of airway collapse in obstructive sleep apnea with airway pressure monitoring
Author(s) -
Katsantonis George P.,
Moss Kenneth,
Miyazaki Soichiro,
Walsh James
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1288/00005537-199310000-00009
Subject(s) - obstructive sleep apnea , airway , medicine , continuous positive airway pressure , sleep apnea , sleep (system call) , apnea , cardiology , anesthesia , computer science , operating system
Twenty patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) underwent complete polysomnography and simultaneous upper airway pressure monitoring with a custom‐made, soft silicone‐covered catheter measuring 2.3 mm in diameter. The catheter had four solid‐state microtip pressure sensors positioned in the posterior nasopharynx, immediately caudal to the tip of the uvula, at the level of the hyoid bone, and in the midesophagus. The level(s) of airway collapse was determined by changes in the pressure patterns between transducers. In 14 of the 20 patients, airway collapse was confined or initiated at the oropharyngeal region. The obstruction extended to the base of tongue in 7 and to the entire collapsible upper airway in 2 patients. Four patients had collapse at the base of the tongue and 2 had collapse at the hypopharynx. The site of airway collapse remained fairly constant through various sleep stages and positions. Uvulo‐palatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) and postoperative polysomnography were performed in 4 patients (2 with hypopharyngeal, 1 with base of tongue, and 1 with oropharyngeal airway collapse). Two patients had a favorable response to UPPP.