Morphological Changes Of Upper Airway Research Articles

Morphological changes of upper airway in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome after H-UPPP

Objective:To investigate the morphological changes of the upper airway palatepharyngeal plane after modified uvulopalatopharyngoplasty（H-UPPP） in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome（OSAHS） and efficacy of the surgery. Methods:Thirty-six patients diagnosed as moderate to severe OSAHS in the Central Hospital of Wuhan from January 2016 to September 2019 were treated with H-UPPP. PSG and 64 slice spiral CT were performed before operation, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years after operation to evaluate the changes of AHI, LSaO₂, CT90, BMI and the minimum anterior and posterior axis diameter, left and right axis diameter and cross-sectional volume of velopharyngeal plane, respectively. Results:The AHI, LSaO₂, CT90, BMI were significantly improved, while the minimum anterior posterior axis diameter, left and right axis diameter and cross-sectional volume of velopharyngeal plane were enlarged in the maximum extent at one month after operation. The alteration of left and right axis diameter could be maintained until half a year after operation, but gradually retracted after 1 year after operation. The improvement of anterior and posterior axis diameter can only be maintained until 3 months after operation, and return to the preoperative level 2 years after operation; The minimum cross-sectional area improved significantly at 1 month after operation and decreased after 3 months, but there was still a significant improvement at 2 years after operation（P<0.05）. The change of AHI was similar to that of the minimum cross-sectional area, and there was still a significant difference at 2 years after operation（P<0.001）; The improvement of LSaO₂ was the most significant at 1 month after operation, which could be maintained until 3 months after operation, and then gradually recovered. The improvement of CT90 could be maintained until half a year after operation, and decreased significantly at 1 year after operation. BMI was still better than that before operation at 1 year after operation, but returned to the preoperative level at 2 years after operation. The improvement of AHI was mainly related to the minimum anterior posterior axis diameter and cross-sectional area of velopharyngeal plane, but not to the left and right axis diameters. Conclusion:The morphological changes of upper airway in patients with OSAHS after H-UPPP are mainly the improvement of anterior posterior diameter, left and right diameter and minimum cross-sectional area caused by removing the anatomical load of upper airway within 3 months after operation, but the reduction of anterior posterior diameter and minimum cross-sectional area gradually occurs after 3 months, resulting in the weakening of surgical effect.

Age-related morphological changes in upper airway in adult patients with obstructive sleep apnea

Age-related morphological changes in upper airway in adult patients with obstructive sleep apnea

The influential factors on the morphological changes of upper airway associated with mouth opening.

This study aimed to evaluate the influential factors on the morphological changes of upper airway caused by mouth opening (MO). One hundred and thirty-eight obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) patients were enrolled. Anthropometric and demographic data, Friedman tongue position (FTP), and tonsil scores were recorded. Overnight polysomnography and upper airway computed tomography scans under two conditions (mouth closed [MC] and MO) were acquired. Morphological parameters of upper airway were compared between MC and MO. Stepwise multiple linear regression analyses were performed with the variation ratio of upper airway parameters (Para-VRs) from MC to MO as the dependent variable, with age, gender, body mass index, neck circumference, waist circumference, four mandibular indexes, net angle or amount of MO, FTP, and tonsil scores as the independent variables. Overall analysis and subgroup analyses based on OSAHS severity revealed that the minimal cross-sectional area of oropharyngeal lumen (OXmin) significantly decreased (P < 0.05) with MO, whereas the minimal cross-sectional area of velopharyngeal lumen (VXmin) did not significantly change with MO (P > 0.05). The net angle of MO or amount of MO combined with tonsil scores were identified to have significant positive correlation with EXP (OXmin-VR), [OXmin-VR was logarithmically transformed with an exponential function, EXP(n) = en ]; FTP appeared to be more related to EXP (VXmin-VR). Mouth opening induced a significant increase VXmin for patient subgroup with FTP grading I and a significant decrease VXmin for patient subgroup with FTP grading IV (P < 0.05). Wider MO combined with larger tonsils lead to narrower oropharyngeal airway. The relative position of tongue to soft palate is the main factor influencing the changes of velopharyngeal lumen with MO. 4 Laryngoscope, 128:2902-2909, 2018.

Morphological changes of upper airway and dysphasia problems in oral cancer patients with oropharyngeal reconstruction surgery

ObjectiveSwallowing statuses in patients with advanced cancers that require reconstruction have not been studied well. The relationship between topography of the reconstructed upper airway and swallowing status was evaluated. Material and methodsSubjects comprised 19 cases of tongue cancer and 10 cases of mandibular cancer who underwent resection of the primary lesion and reconstructive surgery with the vascularized free flap. CT image data preoperatively and postoperatively were utilized to evaluate morphological airway changes. Videofluorographic swallowing study (VFSS) was performed postoperatively. Aspiration and laryngeal penetration were noted and compared with morphological airway changes. ResultsRegarding postoperative airway morphology, no significant differences in postoperative airway changes were apparent between tongue and mandibular cancers. In postoperative VFSS, aspiration and/or laryngeal penetration was seen in 32% of the tongue cancer cases and 20% of the mandibular cancer cases. ConclusionCases with aspiration and/or laryngeal penetration revealed less reduction of postoperative cross-sectional area compared to other cases.

CBCT Evaluation of the Upper Airway Morphological Changes in Growing Patients of Class II Division 1 Malocclusion with Mandibular Retrusion Using Twin Block Appliance: A Comparative Research

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the morphological changes of upper airway after Twin Block (TB) treatment in growing patients with Class II division 1 malocclusion and mandibular retrusion compared with untreated Class II patients by cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).Materials and MethodsThirty growing patients who have completed TB treatment were recruited into TB group. The control group (n = 30) was selected from the patients with the same diagnosis and without TB treatment. CBCT scans of the pre-treatment (T1) and post-treatment (T2) data of TB group and control data were collected. After three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction and registration of T1 and T2 data, the morphological changes of upper airway during TB treatment were measured. The statistical differences between T1 and T2 data of TB group as well as T2 and control data were accessed by t-test.ResultsDuring the TB treatment, the mandible moved advanced by 3.52±2.14 mm in the horizontal direction and 3.77±2.10 mm in the vertical direction. The hyoid bone was in a more forward and inferior place. The upper airway showed a significant enlargement in nasopharynx, oropharynx and hypopharynx. In addition, the nasopharynx turned more circular, and the oropharynx became more elliptic in transverse shape. However, the transverse shape of the hypopharynx showed no significant difference. After comparison between T2 and control data, only the horizontal movement of the hyoid bone, the volumetric expansion of the oropharynx and hypopharynx, and changes of the oropharyngeal transverse shape showed significant difference.ConclusionCompared to the untreated Class II patients, the upper airway of growing patients with Class II division 1 malocclusion and mandibular retrusion showed a significant enlargement in the oropharynx and hypopharynx as well as a more elliptic transverse shape in the oropharynx, and the hyoid bone moved to an anterior position after TB treatment.