Collapse Of Upper Airway Research Articles

Cross-sectional case-control study of the relationships between pharyngeal compliance and heart rate variability indices in childhood obstructive sleep apnoea.

A combination of noradrenergic and antimuscarinic agents reduces the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) in adult patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) via reduced upper airway collapsibility, suggesting that a shift in the sympathovagal balance improves OSA. The objectives of our present case-control study were to assess heart rate variability (HRV) indices in the stages of sleep in children with and without OSA to evaluate OSA-induced sleep HRV modifications and to assess whether increased collapsibility measured during wakefulness is associated with reduced sympathetic activity during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. Three groups of 15 children were matched by sex, age, z-score of body mass index and ethnicity: non-OSA (obstructive AHI [OAHI] <2events/hr), mild (OAHI ≥2 to <5events/hr) or moderate-severe (OAHI ≥5events/hr) OSA. Pharyngeal compliance was measured during wakefulness using acoustic pharyngometry. HRV indices (time and frequency domain variables) were calculated on 5-min electrocardiography recordings from polysomnography during wakefulness, NREM and REM sleep in periods free of any event. As compared to children without OSA, those with OSA (n=30) were characterised by increased compliance and no physiological parasympathetic tone increase in REM sleep. Children with increased pharyngeal compliance (n=21) had a higher OAHI due to higher AHI in NREM sleep, whereas their sympathetic tone was lower than that of those with normal compliance (n=24). In conclusion, children with increased pharyngeal compliance exhibit decreased sympathetic tone associated with increased AHI in NREM sleep. Therapeutics directed at sympathovagal balance modifications should be tested in childhood OSA.

Vulnerability to Postoperative Complications in Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Importance of Phenotypes.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common comorbidity in patients undergoing surgical procedures. Patients with OSA are at heightened risk of postoperative complications. Current treatments for OSA focus on alleviating upper airway collapse due to impaired upper airway anatomy. Although impaired upper airway anatomy is the primary cause of OSA, the pathogenesis of OSA is highly variable from person to person. In many patients, nonanatomical traits play a critical role in the development of OSA. There are 4 key traits or "phenotypes" that contribute to OSA pathogenesis. In addition to (1) impaired upper airway anatomy, nonanatomical contributors include: (2) impaired upper airway dilator muscle responsiveness; (3) low respiratory arousal threshold (waking up too easily to minor airway narrowing); and (4) unstable control of breathing (high loop gain). Each of these phenotypes respond differently to postoperative factors, such as opioid medications. An understanding of these phenotypes and their highly varied interactions with postoperative risk factors is key to providing safer personalized care for postoperative patients with OSA. Accordingly, this review describes the 4 OSA phenotypes, highlights how the impact on OSA severity from postoperative risk factors, such as opioids and other sedatives, is influenced by OSA phenotypes, and outlines how this knowledge can be applied to provide individualized care to minimize postoperative risk in surgical patients with OSA.

Perioperative Management of the Patient With Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Narrative Review.

The prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has reached 1 billion people worldwide, implying significant risk for the perioperative setting as patients are vulnerable to cardiopulmonary complications, critical care requirement, and unexpected death. This review summarizes main aspects and considerations for the perioperative management of OSA, a condition of public health concern. Critical determinants of perioperative risk include OSA-related changes in upper airway anatomy with augmented collapsibility, diminished capability of upper airway dilator muscles to respond to airway obstruction, disparities in hypoxemia and hypercarbia arousal thresholds, and instability of ventilatory control. Preoperative OSA screening to identify patients at increased risk has therefore been implemented in many institutions. Experts recommend that in the absence of severe symptoms or additional compounding health risks, patients may nevertheless proceed to surgery, while heightened awareness and the adjustment of postoperative care is required. Perioperative caregivers should anticipate difficult airway management in OSA and be prepared for airway complications. Anesthetic and sedative drug agents worsen upper airway collapsibility and depress central respiratory activity, while the risk for postoperative respiratory compromise is further increased with the utilization of neuromuscular blockade. Consistently, opioid analgesia has proven to be complex in OSA, as patients are particularly prone to opioid-induced respiratory depression. Moreover, basic features of OSA, including intermittent hypoxemia and repetitive sleep fragmentation, gradually precipitate a higher sensitivity to opioid analgesic potency along with an increased perception of pain. Hence, regional anesthesia by blockade of neural pathways directly at the site of surgical trauma as well as multimodal analgesia by facilitating additive and synergistic analgesic effects are both strongly supported in the literature as interventions that may reduce perioperative complication risk. Health care institutions are increasingly allocating resources, including those of postoperative enhanced monitoring, in an effort to increase patient safety. The implementation of evidence-based perioperative management strategies is however burdened by the rising prevalence of OSA, the large heterogeneity in disease severity, and the lack of evidence on the efficacy of costly perioperative measures. Screening and monitoring algorithms, as well as reliable risk predictors, are urgently needed to identify OSA patients that are truly in need of extended postoperative surveillance and care. The perioperative community is therefore challenged to develop feasible pathways and measures that can confer increased patient safety and prevent complications in patients with OSA.

Real-time prediction of upcoming respiratory events via machine learning using snoring sound signal.

The aim of the study was to inspect the acoustic properties and sleep characteristics of a preapneic snoring sound. The feasibility of forecasting upcoming respiratory events by snoring sound was also investigated. Participants with habitual snoring or a heavy breathing sound during sleep were recruited consecutively. Polysomnography was conducted, and snoring-related breathing sound was recorded simultaneously. Acoustic features and sleep features were extracted from 30-second samples, and a machine learning algorithm was used to establish 2 prediction models. A total of 74 eligible participants were included. Model 1, tested by 5-fold cross-validation, achieved an accuracy of 0.92 and an area under the curve of 0.94 for respiratory event prediction. Model 2, with acoustic features and sleep information tested by Leave-One-Out cross-validation, had an accuracy of 0.78 and an area under the curve of 0.80. Sleep position was found to be the most important among all sleep features contributing to the performance of the 2 models. Preapneic sound presented unique acoustic characteristics, and snoring-related breathing sound could be deployed as a real-time apneic event predictor. The models, combined with sleep information, serve as a promising tool for an early warning system to forecast apneic events. Wang B, Yi X, Gao J, etal. Real-time prediction of upcoming respiratory events via machine learning using snoring sound signal. J Clin Sleep Med. 2021;17(9):1777-1784.

Study of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Parameters in Patients of Nasal Polyposis Using Peripheral Arterial Tonometry

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome is characterized by partial or complete cessation of airflow and oxygen desaturation during sleep owing to upper airway collapse. This study assesses the OSA parameters in nasal polyposis patients before and after functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) with the help of peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT) device. Methodology: This was a prospective study done in the months of April 2015 to June 2016. Patients with bilateral nasal polyps with Lund Mackay Scoring marking equal to and more than two of both sides. Thirty patients willing to undergo PAT sleep study before and after FESS were recruited. The sleep parameters thus obtained in the pre- and postoperative period were analyzed. Results: Out of 30 patients, 22 patients were male and eight patients were female. The mean age was 43.17 with standard deviation of 10.06 years. The mean body mass index was 29.12 with a standard deviation of 5.76. All patients underwent FESS. The PAT study was done before and after surgery. Snoring grading and Epworth Sleepiness Scale scoring improved in the majority of patients after surgery. The mean respiratory disturbance index (RDI) in the preoperative period was 32.7 which decreased to 11.34 in the postoperative period. The mean apnea hypopnea index (AHI) in the preoperative period was 22.85 which decreased to 6.34 in the postoperative period. The mean oxygen desaturation index (ODI) in the preoperative period was 16.8 which decreased to 4.4 after surgery. Significant correlation (P &lt; 0.001) was found between pre- and postoperative RDI, AHI, ODI, and oxygen desaturation events. Conclusion: The OSA parameters before and after endoscopic sinus surgery in nasal polyposis patients got improved. The PAT device, which is the newest novel plethysmograph, proved to be a reliable device for the assessment of sleep apnea parameters in nasal polyposis in the pre- or postoperative period.

OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA

Obstructive sleep apnea is an under recognized and under diagnosed medical condition, with a myriad of negative consequences on patients health and society as a whole. The most acting reason behind Obstructive sleep apnea given as in literature is due to recurrent episodes of upper airway (UA) collapse during sleep. Episodes may last 10 seconds or longer and commonly last 30 seconds or longer. From the mid-1990s to the present, we have seen an explosion of basic, clinical, and population research directed toward the prevalence, causes, consequences, and treatment of this long-standing, although only recently appreciated, problem. Sleep apnea has attracted a myriad of researchers from diverse disciplines and clinical subspecialties. At the same time, sleep apnea as a serious, undefined clinical problem has also given birth to many sleep medicine clinics throughout the western world. Finally, given the relatively high prevalence of this sleep-specific problem with potential carryover to daytime pathology, sleep apnea has provided great impetus to the growth of sleep medicine as a clinical and research specialty. Dentists have been involved in the collaborative evaluation and treatment of patients with OSA using oral appliances from 1980. Importantly, dentists play a crucial role in evaluating patients with OSA for the suitability of appliance therapy, choosing and adjusting the appliance and assessing the patient for adverse effects. To accomplish holistic treatment approach it is essential that dentists and the sleep medicine physician should work collaboratively. When this occurs, patients will have the best opportunity for the effective treatment of their OSA.

Short lingual frenulum and head-forward posture in children with the risk of obstructive sleep apnea

BackgroundRecent studies have shown that a short lingual frenulum is a potential risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in children. A short frenulum leads to abnormal orofacial development and may consequently contribute to sleep-disordered breathing by narrowing the upper airways and increasing the risk of upper-airway collapsibility. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of a short lingual frenulum on the risk of OSAS in children. MethodsChildren from pre-, primary, secondary, and high school, aged 3–17 years, were included in the study. Parents/guardians were asked to fill in the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ), and then, children at risk of OSAS were enrolled in the study group. A control group was established randomly from patients with negative PSQ results. A physical examination, including measurements of head-forward posture (HFP) and length of the free tongue, inter-incisor distance and subjective high-arched palate evaluation was performed in children from both groups. ResultsA total of 1,500 PSQ questionnaires were distributed, and less than half (713) were returned correctly filled in. In the second part of the study, 135 children were evaluated: 67 in the study group and 68 in the control group. The mean ages were 9.4 ± 3.0 and 9.5 ± 3.1 years, respectively. Children in the study group had significantly shorter lingual frenula, higher HFP measures, and had a higher prevalence of a high-arched palate. Based on statistical analysis, a short lingual frenulum (OR 5.02 [1.58–15.94]). ConclusionsThe study identified a relationship between a short lingual frenulum and the risk of OSAS in children. Detecting and addressing ankyloglossia in children is necessary before it leads to orofacial changes, malocclusion, and consequently, sleep apnea. Furthermore, OSAS was associated with higher HFP, but no relationship was found between the two parameters.

Prevalence of the Risk of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Relation to Obese and Overweight Collegiate Students

INTRODUCTION: Obstructive sleep apnea is described as monotonous collapse and reopening of upperairway during sleep which affect the ventilation. This Obstructive sleep apnea is common among obese andoverweight individuals. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to determine prevalence of the riskof obstructive sleep apnea in relation to obese and overweight collegiate students.METHODOLOGY: It is a non- experimental study with sample size of 100 which include obese andoverweight. 50 subjects with obese and 50 subjects with overweight are included and assessed for risk ofsleep apnea. OUTCOME MEASURES: Berlin Questionnaire RESULTS: Percentage of low risk wasabout 56, whereas the high risk Obstructive sleep apnea was 44% among overweight. Percentage of highrisk was 52 and low risk 48. CONCLUSION: This study concluded that the prevalence of Obstructive sleepapnea had a higher risk among obese when compare to the overweight individuals.

Sleep-Disordered Breathing in Patients with Motor Neurone Disease: One Size Does Not Fit all

Introduction: Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in patients with motor neurone disease (MND) is normally attributed to hypoventilation due to muscle weakness. However, we have observed different patterns of SDB among MND patients referred for non-invasive ventilation, which do not appear to be explained by respiratory muscle weakness alone. Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the characteristics of SDB in MND. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of sleep studies (using polysomnography [PSG]), pulmonary function tests, and arterial blood gases in MND patients referred to a tertiary sleep medicine service for clinical review. Sleep apnoeas were characterised as obstructive or central, and to further characterise the nature of SDB, hypopnoeas were classified as obstructive versus central. Results: Among 13 MND patients who had a diagnostic PSG, the mean ± SD age was 68.9 ± 9.8 years, BMI 23.0 ± 4.3 kg/m², forced vital capacity 55.7 ± 20.9% predicted, and partial pressure of CO₂ (arterial blood) 52.7 ± 12.1 mm Hg. A total of 38% of patients (5/13) showed evidence of sleep hypoventilation. The total apnoea/hypopnoea index (AHI) was (median [interquartile range]) 44.4(36.2–56.4)/h, with 92% (12/13) showing an AHI >10/h, predominantly due to obstructive events, although 8% (1/13) also showed frequent central apnoea/hypopnoeas. Conclusions: Patients with MND exhibit a wide variety of SDB. The prevalence of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is surprising considering the normal BMI in most patients. A dystonic tongue and increased upper-airway collapsibility might predispose these patients to OSA. The wide variety of SDB demonstrated might have implications for ventilator settings and patients’ outcomes.

Correlation between the transverse dimension of the maxilla, upper airway obstructive site, and OSA severity.

Acquiring a better comprehension of obstructive sleep apnea physiopathology can contribute to improving patient selection for surgical treatments. We hypothesize that maxillary transverse deficiency restricts the space available for the tongue, leading to upper airway obstruction during sleep. Our primary hypothesis was that maxillary transverse deficiency increases the prevalence of tongue collapse during drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE). The secondary hypothesis was that maxillary transverse deficiency will also increase the prevalence of circumferential collapse at the velopharynx. The exploratory hypothesis was that maxillary transverse deficiency is associated with increased obstructive sleep apnea severity. The objectives of this study were to correlate maxillary morphometric measurements with (1) the anatomic level of obstruction during DISE and (2) the apnea-hypopnea index on polysomnography. We made a cross-sectional analysis of patients with obstructive sleep apnea undergoing DISE in search of positive airway pressure alternative treatment. Maxillary measurements were collected from a computed tomography scan (interpremolar distance, intermolar distance [IMD] and sella-nasion A point angle), findings from DISE, and sleep study variables from polysomnography. Correlation between computed tomography, DISE, and polysomnography data was assessed using Pearson's correlation, and receiver operating characteristic curves were determined for each facial measurement. Sixty-nine patients were included in the study. The group with velopharyngeal circumferential collapse had mean IMD = 26.30 mm (25.5-31.45), and the group with anteroposterior collapse had mean IMD = 29.20 mm (26.8-33.10; P = .040). The group with complete tongue-base obstruction had mean interpremolar distance = 26.40 mm (25.1-28) and IMD = 26.30 mm (25.6-28.4), and the group without obstruction had mean interpremolar distance = 28.7 mm (27.2-30; P = .003) and IMD = 34.06 mm (32.1-37; P < .001). The receiver operating characteristic curve determined an IMD cutoff of 29.8 mm for predicting tongue-base obstruction. The maxillary transverse deficiency, identified by reduction in interpremolar distance and IMD, predicted the occurrence of complete tongue-base obstruction, complete concentric collapse at the velopharynx, and multilevel obstruction during DISE. We did not find an association between the maxillary measurements and obstructive sleep apnea severity. These associations hold some promise in ultimately supplanting insights previously available only through DISE.

Risk factors and clinical prediction formula for the evaluation of obstructive sleep apnea in Asian adults

Obstructive sleep apnea is a highly prevalent cyclic repetitive hypoxia-normoxia respiratory sleep disorder characterized by intermittent upper-airway collapse. It is mainly diagnosed using in-laboratory polysomnography. However, the time-spatial constraints of this procedure limit its application. To overcome these limitations, there have been studies aiming to develop clinical prediction formulas for screening of obstructive sleep apnea using the risk factors for this disorder. However, the applicability of the formula is restricted by the group specific factors included in it. Therefore, we aimed to assess the risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea and develop clinical prediction formulas, which can be used in different situations, for screening and assessing this disorder. We enrolled 3,432 Asian adult participants with suspected obstructive sleep apnea who had successfully undergone in-laboratory polysomnography. All parameters were evaluated using correlation analysis and logistic regression. Among them, age, sex, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, anthropometric factors, Berlin questionnaire and Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores, and anatomical tonsil and tongue position were significantly associated with obstructive sleep apnea. To develop the clinical formulas for obstructive sleep apnea, the participants were divided into the development (n = 2,516) and validation cohorts (n = 916) based on the sleep laboratory visiting date. We developed and selected 13 formulas and divided them into those with and without physical examination based on the ease of application; subsequently, we selected suitable formulas based on the statistical analysis and clinical applicability (formula including physical exam: sensitivity, 0.776; specificity, 0.757; and AUC, 0.835; formula without physical exam: sensitivity, 0.749; specificity, 0.770; and AUC, 0.839). Analysis of the validation cohort with developed formulas showed that these models and formula had sufficient performance and goodness of fit of model. These tools can effectively utilize medical resources for obstructive sleep apnea screening in various situations.

Mandibular Advancement Device use for therapy of simple snoring: mini review

Abstract Oral devices that treat obstructive sleep apnea are an easy and influential option to protect the upper airways from sleep obstructions. One example is the mandibular advancement device (MAD), which is a non-invasive apparatus specified in adults with simple snoring and mild obstructive sleep apnea. Recently, due to the constraints of other therapies, like positive airway pressure treatment and surgical methods, there has been growing interest in the use of oral appliance for simple snoring patients. MAD is managed to improve the upper airway volume, minimize upper airway collapse and reduce snoring. On the other hand, it remains inferior to CPAP in the reduction of the apnea-hypopnea scores, with therapy success varying from 24% to 72%. The treatment modalities include skilled physicians and multidisciplinary strategies to treat patients with snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) effectively. Some researchers also suggest potential predictors of progress in care, but specific criteria for patient selection and predictive clinical principles for effectiveness in all treatment modalities are still needed. The aim of this brief clinical Study is to review MAD brief history, design, indications, contraindications, therapy efficiency, side effects, and current perspectives.

The Utility of Epworth Sleepiness Scale to Screen Moderate and Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea Preoperatively to Predict Difficult Airway

Abstract Introduction Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is sleep-disordered breathing characterized by repetitive episodes of partial or complete upper airway collapse in sleep leading to apnea and/or hypopnea, desaturations, sleep disruptions, and cardiovascular changes. OSA is a known cause for difficult airway, especially mask ventilation. Daytime sleepiness is one of the hallmark symptoms of OSA. So, we used the Epworth sleepiness score (ESS) in patients suspected of OSA undergoing a sleep study. Methods Overall, 44 subjects suspected to have OSA and undergoing polysomnography were included in the study. The socio-demographic details and the complaints were recorded and the Epworth sleepiness questionnaire was administered. The severity of OSA was graded as per the American Academy of Sleep Medicine using the apnea hypopnea index. Results A total of 44 patients were included in the study. Out of these, 19 were mild, 13 moderate, and 12 severe OSA cases, respectively. ESS of more than 10 showed a positive predictive value of 81.25% and specificity of 85% in screening patients with moderate and severe OSA. But the sensitivity and negative predictive value was only 54.16 and 60.71%, respectively. Conclusion ESS being a simple questionnaire can be easily used preoperatively. A score of more than 10 effectively diagnoses moderate and severe OSA, but less than 10 cannot rule out OSA

Impact of cold and flu medication on obstructive sleep apnoea and its underlying traits: A pilot randomized controlled trial.

Animal studies indicate that alpha-1 adrenergic receptor agonists and antimuscarinic agents improve genioglossus muscle activity during sleep and may be candidates for the pharmacological treatment of OSA. On the other hand, noradrenergic stimulants may be wake-promoting or cause insomnia symptoms if taken before bedtime, and the addition of a medication with sedative properties, such as an antihistaminic, may reduce these side effects. In this study, we aimed to determine the effects of the combination of an alpha-1 adrenergic agonist (pseudoephedrine) and an antihistaminic-antimuscarinic (diphenhydramine) on OSA severity (AHI), genioglossus responsiveness and other endotypic traits (Vpassive , muscle compensation, LG and arousal threshold). Ten OSA patients performed a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover trial comparing one night of pseudoephedrine 120 mg plus diphenhydramine 50 mg (DAW1033D) to placebo administered prior to sleep. The AHI, genioglossus muscle responsiveness to negative oesophageal pressure and the endotypic traits were measured via PSG. The participants' median (interquartile range) age was 50 (46-53) years and body mass index (BMI) was 34.3 (30.6-39.2) kg/m2 . The drug combination had no effect on AHI (21.6 (9.1-49.8) on placebo vs 37.9 (5.1-55.4) events/h on DAW1033D, P > 0.5) or genioglossus responsiveness (6.0 (2.6-9.2) on placebo vs 4.0 (3.5-7.3) %/cm H2 O). Amongst the phenotypic traits, only Vpassive was improved by 29 (3-55) % eupnoea, P = 0.03 (mean (95% CI)). The combination of pseudoephedrine and diphenhydramine did not improve OSA severity or genioglossus responsiveness but induced a small improvement in upper airway collapsibility, possibly due to the decongestant effect of the medications. The results of this study do not support the use of these medications for OSA treatment.

The Effect of Lateral Pharyngeal Collapse Patterns on Therapy Response in Upper Airway Stimulation Surgery.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by repeated upper airway collapse while sleeping which leads to intermittent hypoxemia. Upper airway stimulation (UAS) is a commonly practiced modality for treating OSA in patients who cannot tolerate, or do not benefit from, positive airway pressure (PAP). The purpose of this study is to identify the effect of lateral pharyngeal collapse patterns on therapy response in UAS. A retrospective cohort study from a single, tertiary-care academic center was performed. Patients who underwent UAS between October 2016 and July 2019 were identified and analyzed. Drug-induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE) outcomes between Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) responders and AHI non-responders were compared. Those with complete concentric collapse at the velopharynx were not candidates for UAS. About 95 patients that underwent UAS were included in this study. Pre- to Post-UAS demonstrated significant improvements in Epworth Sleepiness Scale (12.0 vs 4.0, P = .001), AHI (29.8 vs 5.4, P < .001) and minimum oxygen saturation (79% vs 83%, P < .001). No DISE findings significantly predicted AHI response after UAS. Specifically, multiple types of lateral pharyngeal collapse patterns did not adversely effect change in AHI or AHI response rate. Demonstration of lateral pharyngeal collapse on DISE, in the absence of complete concentric velopharyngeal obstruction, does not appear to adversely affect AHI outcomes in UAS patients. VI.

Obesity and Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by upper airway collapse during sleep. Chronic intermittent hypoxia, sleep fragmentation, and inflammatory activation are the main pathophysiological mechanisms of OSA. OSA is highly prevalent in obese patients and may contribute to cardiometabolic risk by exerting detrimental effects on adipose tissue metabolism and potentiating the adipose tissue dysfunction typically found in obesity. This chapter will provide an update on: (a) the epidemiological studies linking obesity and OSA; (b) the studies exploring the effects of intermittent hypoxia and sleep fragmentation on the adipose tissue; (c) the effects of OSA treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on metabolic derangements; and (d) current research on new anti-diabetic drugs that could be useful in the treatment of obese OSA patients.

Dental considerations in obstructive sleep apnea – Retrieving current status

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder caused by partial or complete upper airway collapse with hallmark features of repetitive breathing cessation resulting in reduced oxygen saturation. India ranks third among countries worst hit by OSA. OSA is linked with elevated morbidity and mortality with various modifiable/nonmodifiable predisposing factors. Different medical approaches such as polysomnography, home sleep testing, dynamic magnetic resonance imaging, drug-induced sleep endoscopy, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio assist in diagnosis. Depending on disease severity, various treatment lines have been advocated, including behavioral modifications, continuous positive airway pressure, oral appliances (OAs), and surgical intervention. The role of pharmacotherapy in OSA remains controversial and demands extensive study. OA case selection and titration need to be done with utmost care. Definite protocols for the selection of suitable candidates for OA therapy need to be established. Various invasive and non-invasive surgical interventions such as bariatric surgeries, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty and Mandibular advancement appliances (MAA) have been advocated for OSA treatment. However, MMA requires a detailed diagnosis, including hard and soft tissue examination and an adequate recovery strategy to avoid any resulting adverse facial aesthetics. Implantable upper airway neurostimulators serve as a hope for newer therapeutic approaches. The need for the hour is a multidisciplinary solution to OSA.

Efficacy of an oral appliance in an adult Marfan syndrome patient with obstructive sleep apnea

Marfan’s syndrome (MFS) is an autosomal dominant disorder that affects the body’s connective tissue, characterized by changes in three major connective tissue systems: the musculoskeletal, ocular, and cardiovascular systems. Individuals with MFS can develop severe cardiovascular complications., and the life expectancy of patients with MFS is markedly reduced as the effects of the disease on the aorta often lead to progressive dilatation, with subsequent dissection and rupture. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is highly prevalent in patients with cardiovascular diseases. There is a high prevalence of OSA in patients with MFS due to craniofacial dysmorphism and increased upper airway collapsibility. A high prevalence of OSA has been reported in patients with MFS. To date, however, there are only a few case reports regarding the treatment of OSA in MFS patients. We present a treatment in an adult MFS patient with OSA using an oral appliance (OA). The patient was a 48-year-old Japanese woman of MFS, diagnosed with moderate OSA (apnea hypopnea index [AHI] = 27.0; lowest oxygen saturation [SaO2] = 78%; maximum apnea time = 114 s]). An OA was selected as the treatment option, and post-treatment sleep study indicated a reduction in AHI to 8.8/h with an improvement in other factors (lowest SaO2 = 84%; maximum apnea time = 66 s). Additionally, the treatment resulted in a reduction in BNP levels (81.3 from 110.2 pg/ml), and the patient’s cardiac function was stable over the period in which the patient received OA treatment. This study provides a basis for the future appropriate understanding and management of OSA of MFS patients.

Effect of body weight on upper airway findings and treatment outcome in children with obstructive sleep apnea

Objective/backgroundSurgical interventions for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are less effective in obese than in normal-weight children. However, the mechanisms that underpin this relationship are not fully understood. Therefore, this study aimed to explore how body weight influences upper airway collapse and treatment outcome in children with OSA. MethodsWe conducted a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data on polysomnography, drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE), and treatment outcome in otherwise healthy children with OSA. Associations between body mass index (BMI) z-score and upper airway collapse during DISE were assessed using logistic regression modelling. Treatment success was defined as obstructive apnea-hypopnea index (oAHI) < 5 events/hour and cure as oAHI < 2 events/hour with obstructive apnea index < 1 event/hour. ResultsA total of 139 children were included [median (Q1─Q3); age 4.5 (3.1─8.4) years; BMI z-score 0.3 (-0.8 to 1.4); oAHI 10.8 (6.8─18.0) events/hour]. Twenty-five of them were overweight and 21 were obese. After adjusting for age and history of upper airway surgery, BMI z-score was significantly correlated with circumferential upper airway collapse during DISE (odds ratio 1.67; 95% confidence interval 1.12─2.65; P = 0.011). Outcome of DISE-directed treatment was similar in normal-weight (success: 91.4%; cure: 78.5%), overweight (success: 88.0%; cure: 80.0%), and obese (success: 90.5%; cure: 76.5%) children. Children with circumferential collapse responded better to continuous positive airway pressure than to (adeno)tonsillectomy. ConclusionIncreasing body weight is associated with circumferential upper airway collapse during DISE and, accordingly, may require treatment strategies other than (adeno)tonsillectomy.

Pathophysiology of Upper Airway Collapse

Previous pathophysiologic studies have revealed that the upper airway dimension reaches a minimal value at the end of expiration, and pharyngeal negative pressure is not an essential prerequisite for upper airway collapse. Furthermore, pharyngeal collapse occurs in spite of increased activity of upper airway dilator muscles in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) compared with normal subjects. Pharyngeal sensory threshold is elevated in patients with OSA, which contributes to inadequate activity of upper airway dilator muscles. Pharyngeal narrowing results in several types of airflow limitation, of whom the mechanisms are mainly explained using Starling resistor model and negative effort dependence. Several studies have been conducted over the past years to validate polysomnographic surrogate markers which indicate specific pathophysiologic phenotypes, and such attempts may be able to lead us to personalized treatment for OSA.