𝔖 Bobbio Scriptorium
✦   LIBER   ✦

Soft palate sensory neuropathy in the pathogenesis of obstructive sleep apnea

✍ Scribed by Ola Sunnergren; Anders Broström; Eva Svanborg

Publisher
John Wiley and Sons
Year
2011
Tongue
English
Weight
347 KB
Volume
121
Category
Article
ISSN
0023-852X

No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Objectives/ Hypothesis:

In general, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) seems to be a progressive disorder whose pathogenesis is not fully understood. One hypothesis is that long‐standing snoring vibrations cause a local neuropathy in the upper airway, which predisposes to obstructive events during sleep. The aim of this study was to investigate sensory function in the upper airway in a cohort of subjects comprising nonsnorers, snorers, and untreated subjects with OSA, and to correlate data to apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) and duration of snoring.

Study Design:

Cross‐sectional cohort study.

Methods:

Subjects were recruited from primary care hypertension clinics. Whole‐night respiratory recordings were performed to determine presence and degree of OSA. Three groups were formed based on AHI and snoring history: 1) nonsnorers (n = 25); 2) snorers, AHI < 10 (n = 32); 3) OSA subjects, AHI ≥ 10 (n = 33). Quantitative cold sensory testing of the soft palate and lip was used to assess neuropathy.

Results:

There were no significant differences concerning lip sensory function between groups. Nonsnorers showed significantly lower thresholds for cold (i.e., better sensitivity) in the soft palate compared to both other groups (P < .01). Snorers had lower thresholds than OSA subjects (P < .05). There were significant correlations (P < .01) between decreased sensory function and AHI (r~s~ = .41) and to duration of snoring (r~s~ = .47).

Conclusions:

The degree of sensory neuropathy in the upper airway correlates with degree of obstructive sleep disorder. Our results strengthen the hypothesis that snoring vibrations may cause a neuropathy in the upper airway, which contributes to the progression and development of OSA. Laryngoscope, 2011

📜 SIMILAR VOLUMES

Sleep magnetic resonance imaging: Dynami
Sleep magnetic resonance imaging: Dynamic characteristics of the airway during sleep in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome
✍ Jose E. Barrera 📂 Article 📅 2011 🏛 John Wiley and Sons 🌐 English ⚖ 416 KB

## Abstract ## Objectives/Hypothesis: To determine the dynamic characteristics of airway obstruction in subjects with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome. ## Study Design: A prospective cohort study of 20 OSA patients and 19 control subjects who underwent real‐time magnetic resonance imaging

Radiofrequency surgery of the soft palat
Radiofrequency surgery of the soft palate in the treatment of mild obstructive sleep apnea is not effective as a single-stage procedure: A randomized single-blinded placebo-controlled trial
✍ Leif J. J. Bäck; Tommi Liukko; Irma Rantanen; Jaakko S. Peltola; Markku Partinen 📂 Article 📅 2009 🏛 John Wiley and Sons 🌐 English ⚖ 224 KB

## Abstract ## Objectives/Hypothesis: Radiofrequency (RF) surgery of the soft palate (SP) is an established treatment option for the treatment of snoring. Due to its minimally invasive character, it has received attention in the management of mild obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). ## Study

Transoral robotic surgery of the tongue
Transoral robotic surgery of the tongue base in obstructive sleep Apnea-Hypopnea syndrome: Anatomic considerations and clinical experience
✍ Claudio Vicini; Iacopo Dallan; Pietro Canzi; Sabrina Frassineti; Andrea Nacci; V 📂 Article 📅 2011 🏛 John Wiley and Sons 🌐 English ⚖ 332 KB

## Abstract ## Background The purpose of our work was to describe, through cadaveric dissection, the anatomy of the tongue base with a robotic perspective and to demonstrate the feasibility of this approach in case of tongue base hypertrophy in Obstructive Sleep Apnea‐Hypopnea Syndrome (OSAHS). #