Modified Friedman stage in predicting glossopharyngeal obstruction in obstructive sleep apnea.

CONCLUSIONS

Modified Friedman stage can be used to predict glossopharyngeal obstruction better than before in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the diagnostic value of modified Friedman stage in predicting glossopharyngeal obstruction in patients with OSA.

METHODS

Eighty-five OSA patients with Friedman stage III were divided into IIIa group and IIIb group based on an imaginary line drawn in the horizontal and middle position of the soft palate. Polysomnography (PSG) was performed after nasopharyngeal tube (NPT) insertion (NPT-PSG) to diagnose glossopharyngeal obstruction. Apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) determined by NPT-PSG (NPT-AHI) and glossopharyngeal obstruction result determined by NPT-PSG (NPT-PSG result) were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

There were significant differences in NPT-AHI (p < 0.01) and NPT-PSG result (p < 0.01) between the two groups.