Digital fluoroscopy before and after laser uvulopalatopharyngoplasty in obstructive sleep apnea. Importance of pharyngeal collapsibility and hyoid bone position.

PURPOSE: To study the changes in pharyngeal behavior after laser uvulopalatopharyhgoplasty (LUPPP).

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

The dynamic changes in the upper airway size were evaluated with digital fluoroscopy in 24 patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) before and after LUPPP and in 16 normal controls, while they were awake and breathing normally. Cephalometric measurements were also made. The patients were classified into the categories of good and poor responders by means of a static-charge-sensitive bed.

RESULTS

Following LUPPP, collapsibility at the velopharyngeal level was within the normal range m 15 of 17 good responders, but only in 2 of 7 poor responders (p = 0.0086). The minimum airway size at the same level showed a similar trend. In 3 of 7 poor responders the hyoid bone was positioned more caudally than in the good responders (p = 0.017).

CONCLUSION

Digital fluoroscopy provides information on the change in upper airway behavior after LUPPP.