Palatal prolapse as a signature of expiratory flow limitation and inspiratory palatal collapse in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea.

ABSTRACT: In some individuals with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), the palate prolapses into the velopharynx during expiration, limiting airflow through the nose or shunting it out of the mouth. We hypothesised that this phenomenon causes expiratory flow limitation (EFL) and is associated with inspiratory "isolated" palatal collapse. We also wanted to provide a robust noninvasive means to identify this mechanism of obstruction.Using natural sleep endoscopy, 1211 breaths from 22 OSA patients were scored as having or not having palatal prolapse. The patient-level site of collapse (tongue-related, isolated palate, pharyngeal lateral walls and epiglottis) was also characterised. EFL was quantified using expiratory resistance at maximal epiglottic pressure. A noninvasive EFL index (EFLI) was developed to

SUBMITTER: Azarbarzin A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5915321 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature