Corelations between the ENT modifications and BMI in patients with sleep breathing disorders.

AIM: To show if between the BMI index of weight and the oro and hypopharingeal modifications we can establish a link for the same value of the index of AHI hypoapnea.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: At the patients with sleep breathing pathology of an obstructive type we conducted nasal, oro- and hypopharingeal endoscopic examinations, measurements and calculation of the weight index, followed by the polygraphic evaluation of the sleep, the establishment of the degree of sleep obstructive apnea; we used a form of ENT examination. The classification of patients according to the value of the apnea index of AHI hypoapnea in 3 groups: AHI < 10, 10 < AHI < 50, and AHI > 50. According to the value of the BMI weight index we analyze 3 groups of patients: BMI < 27, 27 < BMI < 40, BMI > 40.

RESULTS

For AHI < 10, habitual snoring we can notice that normal amygdales appear in an increased percent for BMI < 27 or BMI > 40 and AHI < 10 the increased webbing is specific for 27 < BMI < 40. For AHI > 50 the occurring oropharingeal modifications are: normal amygdales, long and broad uvula and webbing spanning between 5-10 mm.

CONCLUSION

Oropharingeal modifications and the index of BMI weight are essential elements, taken individually in the preoperatory evaluation of patients with syndrome of obstructive sleep apnea.