This study examined the dynamic characteristics of upper airway collapse at soft palate level in patients with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) by using dynamic 3-Dimensional (3-D) CT imaging. A total of 41 male patients who presented with 2 of the following symptoms, i.e., daytime sleepiness and fatigue, frequent snoring, and apnea with witness, were diagnosed as having OSAHS. They underwent full-night polysomnography and then dynamic 3-D CT imaging of the upper airway during quiet breathing and in Muller's maneuver. The soft palate length (SPL), the minimal cross-sectional area of the retropalatal region (mXSA-RP), and the vertical distance from the hard palate to the upper posterior part of the hyoid (hhL) were compared between the two breathing states. These parameters, together with hard palate length (HPL), were also compared between mild/moderate and severe OSAHS groups. Association of these parameters with the severity of OSAHS [as reflected by apnea hypopnea index (AHI) and the lowest saturation of blood oxygen (LSaO(2))] was examined. The results showed that 31 patients had severe OSAHS, and 10 mild/moderate OSAHS. All the patients had airway obstruction at soft palate level. mXSA-RP was significantly decreased and SPL remarkably increased during Muller's maneuver as compared with the quiet breathing state. There were no significant differences in these airway parameters (except the position of the hyoid bone) between severe and mild/moderate OSAHS groups. And no significant correlation between these airway parameters and the severity of OSAHS was found. The position of hyoid was lower in the severe OSAHS group than in the mild/moderate OSAHS group. The patients in group with body mass index (BMI)≥26 had higher collapse ratio of mXSA-RP, greater neck circumference and smaller mXSA-RP in the Muller's maneuver than those in group with BMI<26 (P<0.05 for all). It was concluded that dynamic 3-D CT imaging could dynamically show the upper airway changes at soft palate level in OSAHS patients. All the OSAHS patients had airway obstruction of various degrees at soft palate level. But no correlation was observed between the airway change at soft palate level and the severity of OSAHS. The patients in group with BMI≥26 were more likely to develop airway obstruction at soft palate level than those with BMI<26.

OBJECTIVE: To explore a new way to modify the UPPP and to assess the operative efficacy of modified-coblation assisted UPPP (M-CAUP) on patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). METHOD: A retrospective analysis was made on surgical therapeutic effect of M-CAUP performed in our hospital. INCLUSION CRITERIA: 87 adult inpatients with severe OSAHS were involved in the study whose preoperative AHI were beyond 30/h and LSaO2 were under or equal to 85%. All those had the primary level obstruction within the retropalatal region as determined by PSG and airway pressure fluctuation monitoring (ApneaGraph 200, MRA-Medical Ltd, Gloucestershire UK) . The surgical approach of M-CAUP: (1) bilateral tonsillectomy by using Arthrocare EVac 70 T&A Wand. (2) dissection of velum palatinum space by using Arthrocare EVac 70 T&A Wand, ablation of fat tissue to removed it from the space, avoiding injure levator palatini muscle and tensor palatini muscle and preserving musculus uvula, maintaining the normal structure of oropharynx. (3) ablation of channel of soft palate by using Arthrocare EVac 55 T&A Wand to reduce the volume of soft palate moderately. (4) plasty: suturing the tonsilar fossa to close the space, interrupted suture two sides of palatine arch and uvula. All patients were followed up for six to eighteen months postoperatively and received PSG. RESULT: After M-CAUP, the pharyngeal cavity was enlarged while the basic structure of oropharynx was maintained and no nasopharyngeal refluxing occurred. The subjective symptoms were also improved evidently after operation. After operation, the AHI and Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) decreased while LSaO2 increased. The reduction of AHI and ESS had statistical significance (P < 0.01), and the rise of LSaO2 also had statistical significance (P < 0.01). The total effective ratio of the operation was 89.7%. CONCLUSION Despite of various treatment, the operative efficacy of conventional UPPP was almost not ideal on severe OSAHS due to complex pathogeny. It was proved that M-CAUP was an effective surgical treatment of severe OSAHS with less blood loss. The operation was minimally invasive and maintained the normal functions of palatopharynx in principle. It could be applied in clinical practice.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Palate, Soft ; surgery ; Pharynx ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; surgery ; Uvula ; surgery

This study examined the dynamic characteristics of upper airway collapse at soft palate level in patients with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) by using dynamic 3-Dimensional (3-D) CT imaging.A total of 41 male patients who presented with 2 of the following symptoms,i.e.,daytime sleepiness and fatigue,frequent snoring,and apnea with witness,were diagnosed as having OSAHS.They underwent full-night polysomnography and then dynamic 3-D CT imaging of the upper airway during quiet breathing and in Muller's maneuver.The soft palate length (SPL),the minimal cross-sectional area of the retropalatal region (mXSA-RP),and the vertical distance from the hard palate to the upper posterior part of the hyoid (hhL) were compared between the two breathing states.These parameters,together with hard palate length (HPL),were also compared between mild/moderate and severe OSAHS groups.Association of these parameters with the severity of OSAHS [as reflected by apnea hypopnea index (AHI) and the lowest saturation of blood oxygen (LSaO2)] was examined.The results showed that 31 patients had severe OSAHS,and 10 mild/moderate OSAHS.All the patients had airway obstruction at soft palate level.mXSA-RP was significantly decreased and SPL remarkably increased during Muller's maneuver as compared with the quiet breathing state.There were no significant differences in these airway parameters (except the position of the hyoid bone) between severe and mild/moderate OSAHS groups.And no significant correlation between these airway parameters and the severity of OSAHS was found.The position of hyoid was lower in the severe OSAHS group than in the mild/moderate OSAHS group.The patients in group with body mass index (BMI)≥26 had higher collapse ratio of mXSA-RP,greater neck circumference and smaller mXSA-RP in the Muller's maneuver than those in group with BMI＜26 (P＜0.05 for all).It was concluded that dynamic 3-D CT imaging could dynamically show the upper airway changes at soft palate level in OSAHS patients.All the OSAHS patients had airway obstruction of various degrees at soft palate level.But no correlation was observed between the airway change at soft palate level and the severity of OSAHS.The patients in group with BMI≥26 were more likely to develop airway obstruction at soft palate level than those with BMI＜26.