title: Sensitivity of a simplified forced oscillation technique for detection of upper airway obstruction.
abstract: The sensitivity of a simplified variant of forced oscillation technique (FOT) was studied for assessment of dynamic upper airway obstruction during nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) therapy for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). The airway impedance P[FOT] was measured by FOT and the oesophageal pressure (P(oes)) was recorded during stable stage II sleep in 11 patients with OSA. The CPAP level was initially set high enough to completely abolish upper airway obstruction. To induce gradually increasing upper airway re-obstruction, the CPAP pressure was then lowered stepwise. Thirty six such manoeuvres were analysed, blind, to define the first inspiration at which upper airway re-obstruction was detectable by analysis of P[FOT](t(FOT)) and by P(oes)(t(oes)), respectively. On seven occasions t(FOT) and t(oes) occurred together, in the remaining 29 cases t(FOT) preceded t(oes) with a mean latency of 6.0+/-7.7 (0-32) breath cycles. In no case did t(oes) preceed t(FOT). FOT is a highly sensitive tool for the assessment of incipient upper airway obstruction during nCPAP therapy.
authors.affiliation: Medical Department I, Division of Respiratory Medicine, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Krankenhausstr. 12, 91054 Erlangen, Germany. joachim.ficker@med1.imed.uni-erlangen.de
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ficker
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Wiest
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Asshoff
authors.forename: F S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Fuchs
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Schmelzer
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Harsch
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Hahn
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004947:Esophagus / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009666:Nose; D009991:Oscillometry / Q000379:methods*; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration; D011312:Pressure; D011930:Reaction Time; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*