title: Changes in nasal and oral respiratory resistance before and after uvulopalatopharyngoplasty.
abstract: Twelve patients with complaints of sleep apnea were examined with the all-night sleep test. They underwent uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) and were studied with the all-night sleep test again 3 to 6 months after the operation. Nasal and oral respiratory resistance was measured in sitting and supine position before and after surgery using a microrhinograph. The physiological effect of UPPP was also compared with the results of an MRI anatomical study. Nasal and oral respiratory resistance was significantly decreased post-operatively (p <0.05). The decreased value of post-operative nasal respiratory resistance in a supine position was more marked than that of oral resistance, suggesting that UPPP eliminates the obstruction at the soft palate, especially in a supine position. Although our study was performed in awake patients enlargement of the airway in the middle pharyngeal region may improve the nasal and oral respiratory function during sleep.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Ohashi Hospital, Toho University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kawano
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Usui
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kanazawa
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hara
mesh_terms: D000402:Airway Obstruction; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D010160:Palate, Soft / Q000601:surgery*; D010614:Pharynx / Q000601:surgery*; D011187:Posture; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000601:surgery; D014609:Uvula / Q000601:surgery*