Pharyngoesophageal pressure monitoring in sleep apnea syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
This study tests the sensitivity and the specificity of overnight pharyngoesophageal pressure measurement for identification and classification of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).


METHODS
Fifty-nine snoring patients undergoing polysomnography were invited to have simultaneous pharyngoesophageal manometry. We used a soft silicone catheter with 4 microtip pressure sensors at different levels.


RESULTS
The apnea hypopnea indexes (AHIs) measured by the 2 methods were highly correlated (r = 0.971). Manometry was 100% sensitive and specific in excluding OSA and identifying severe OSA. It was 90% sensitive in identifying moderate OSA and 80% sensitive in identifying mild OSA.


CONCLUSIONS
Overnight ambulatory pharyngoesophageal manometry is a reliable tool for the exclusion of OSA and identification of severe OSA. It has additional advantages of localizing the level of obstruction and identifying the upper airway resistance syndrome and can be performed at home. It is cost-effective when compared with polysomnography and may aid in treatment selection for individual patients.
Reda
M
M
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Department, Freeman Hospital, High Heaton, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE7 7DN, UK.
Gibson
G J
GJ
Wilson
J A
JA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001049:Apnea / Q000503:physiopathology; D004867:Equipment Design; D004947:Esophagus / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008365:Manometry / Q000295:instrumentation; D008875:Middle Aged; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000295:instrumentation; D010614:Pharynx / Q000502:physiology*; D011312:Pressure; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012913:Snoring / Q000503:physiopathology