Quantitative evaluation of pharynx wall resilience of OSAS by fibre endoscope with the Muller maneuver

Objective: To explore the difference of pharynx wall resilience(PWR) between the OSAS patients and normal adults. Methods: 34 patients with OSAS and 34 normal adults were included in the study. The fibre endoscopic photo were taken on palate and lingua region upper airway at normal breath and -40cmH2O upper airway negative pressure in doing Muller maneuver, respectively. The cross section area and the dimension of palate and lingua region upper airway was studied by running image tools software in computer, and the total pharynx wall resilience (TPWR), lateral pharynx wall resilience (LPWR) and fore-to-aft pharynx wall resilience (FAPWR) at palate and lingua region upper airway were calculated. Results: Between OSAS patients and normal adults, there were obviously difference in the TPWR,LPWR and FAPWR of palate and lingua region upper airway. The TPWR, LPWR and FAPWR of palate region upper airway were much more than that of lingua region upper airway. The LPWR was much more than FAPWR in both palate and lingua region upper airway. Conclusion: The pharynx wall resilience of OSAS patients is much more than that of normal adults, and the increasing of pharynx wall resilience is one of OSAS etiology.